United States GP, Sunday
The Renault F1 Team endured its toughest race weekend of
the 2006 season today in Indianapolis.
Run in sweltering temperatures at the famous Indianapolis
Motor Speedway, the US Grand Prix proved tough for the Renault-Michelin
package, with neither Giancarlo Fisichella nor Fernado Alonso
able to keep the pace of their Ferrari rivals. The Renault
drivers finished the race in their starting positions, scoring
a total of ten points to bring the team's total from its North
American campaign to 25 points – compared to zero in
2005. The team now enjoys a 26-point advantage over Ferrari
in the constructors' championship, while Fernando leads the
drivers' championship by 19 points. Giancarlo's strong podium
finish has elevated him to third position, on a total of 43
points. After a run of four successive victories, today's
result only strengthens the team's determination to bounce
back even stronger at the next event, its home race in Magny-Cours.
Giancarlo Fisichella, 3rd position
I am really pleased with this podium after the most difficult
race of the season for us. I got a good start but was quite
cautious under braking into turn 1, which let Fernando get
past me. However, when the Safety Car went back in, I had
a speed advantage over him and when I got a good run down
the main straight, he didn't make life difficult for me. After
that, the key was to keep my pace, carry on pushing and see
if something would happen to the Ferraris. Trulli was quick
behind me too, so we had to keep on pushing all the way through
the second stint, but everything held together and I was able
to turn the revs down in the final part of the race. Third
was the best I could have done today, and I am very happy
to have done the maximum for the team. To be on the podium
at such a hard track for us is a strong result, and I think
things will get back to normal again in Magny-Cours.
Fernando Alonso, 5th position
Fifth was the maximum I could do today. I was not competitive
all weekend and the car was lacking grip all the way through
the race, as well as completing race two of a very hard cycle
for the engine. So I did the maximum possible, and made sure
I scored points for the championship. Looking back to last
year, I scored zero points in North America; this year, I
have scored 14 and my championship position is still very
strong. That's a big reason to stay positive. Ferrari and
Bridgestone were quicker than us today but in ten races, we
have had the better tyres for nine of them, so I am not worried
for the next Grands Prix. We must carry on doing our job,
and know that sometimes we can win, sometimes not. I am already
looking forward to the next race, where I think we will see
a more usual balance of competitiveness between Renault and
Ferrari.
Flavio Briatore, Managing Director
Today was not our day. The competition was too strong for
us, and the maximum we could have got from the race was eleven
points. In the end, we scored ten, so we limited the damage
as much as possible. Giancarlo did a fantastic job to finish
third, it was everything we could ask of him today. Fernando
never got the car to his liking all weekend, but still scored
valuable points. The team has done a great job during two
difficult races in North America, and we all go to France
determined to win again at our home race – and extend
our advantage in the championship.
Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering
It was great to see Giancarlo on the podium, after a very
strong race on a day when our competitors were clearly quicker
than us. Fernando struggled with the car this weekend, but
we did as much as we could to limit the damage in terms of
the championship. Track temperatures were in the 50s this
afternoon, and on a circuit that demands so much from the
tyres, Michelin responded in a conscientious manner. We may
not have won this race, but we can still hold our heads high
and they, like us, will be determined to bounce back on home
territory in Magny-Cours in two weeks' time.
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