2006 US GRAND PRIX – RACE
TAKUMA SATO Car No: 22 (SA05-05)
Position Not Classified No: of Laps: 6 Fastest Lap Time 1:43.802
FRANCK MONTAGNY Car No: 23 (SA05-02)
Position Not Classified No: of Laps: 0 Fastest Lap Time No
timed lap
T-Car SA05-01
Weather Hot and sunny Air Temperature 35-38°C Track Temperature
38-57°C
The US Grand Prix weekend ended in disappointment for the
SUPER AGURI F1 TEAM. Franck Montagny’s race ended before
it had begun when he made unavoidable contact at the start
of the race during an incident at the first corner that wiped
out a total of seven cars. Takuma Sato made a good start off
the line and was running in 11th position when the safety
car was deployed. At the restart Taku made an over taking
charge beside Monteiro (Midland) who then closed the door
across him, forcing Taku off the track at turn one.
Takuma Sato
“This is a disappointing end to a positive weekend.
At the start of the race everyone packed into turn one and
I managed to avoid the accident. I was prepared for the re-start
and after the safety car went in I caught up to DC and Monteiro
and at the end of the straight I was half a car length up
beside Monteiro as I raced with him into turn one. He obviously
saw me and he just kept pushing across me. By this time we
had already started braking, so I couldn't go anywhere and
he just kept coming and I ran out of space. I had to go over
the kerb to avoid him, which is very high on this circuit,
and this unfortunately launched the car up and off the track.”
Franck Montagny
“It was quite a bad weekend. In Canada and here in
Indy we only did two laps in both races. There was nothing
I could do today. I am very careful normally at the start
of the race because I know we can't really fight with the
others, so I don't take the risk and I prefer to finish the
race. I went on the inside, braked normally and easily. I
think Coulthard pushed against Klein and he spun in front
of me and you can't stop a car when it's going 200 clicks
and the car in front is only 5 metres away.”
Aguri Suzuki, Team Principal
“It was a very bad day for us. Franck could not manoeuvre
to avoid the accident at the start as it happened right in
front of him. Taku was running in a good position when he
tried to overtake Monteiro who then closed the door in front
of him. I don’t know who was at fault there, but what
matters is that both of our cars were out at the beginning
of the race and that is extremely disappointing.”
|
