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Firman in action
Schumi claims 65th win

Michael Schumacher won the fourth round of this year's Formula One World Championship in style at Imola today, the World Champion fending off tough challenges from brother Ralf and McLaren ace Kimi Raikkonen.  His 65th career win came in spite of the personal anguish of his mother's death in a Cologne hospital last night, and his celebrations were suitably sombre in mood.

It was a frustrating day for Jordan Ford, both cars retiring in the latter stages of the race.  Ralph Firman suffered a broken oil line after 54 laps while Giancarlo Fisichella's car suffered engine failure five laps later.  Fisichella lost time during his first pit stop due to a misunderstanding when he believed he had been given the signal to pull awar while the car was still being refuelled.

"I'm a bit disappointed," said Fisichella after the race.  "I lost quite a lot of time on the pit stop and then more time to overtaking Trulli and a hydraulics problem and then I blew up the engine.  I lost a bit of time behind Ralph, we were on different strategies but we were at the same part of the track.  Anyway our pace wasn't too bad and I'm looking forward to the next race."

"I got held up by the Minardis at the start," confirmed Firman," but once I got clear of them I was able to push on quite hard although the car had a little bit of oversteer on the turn in to corners.  Later I had a clutch problem and after a couple of laps the engine packed up.  I am looking forward to the Silverstone test next week as the time in the car will be a great help to me.  I think I need to improve myself in qualifying but in the race I always seem to do a reasonably good lap time."

The race result was decided at the time of the first pit stops for although it was Ralf Schumacher who took the lead in his Williams, fending off his brother over the opening dozen laps, as soon as he pitted Michael put in a series of blistering lap times to leap-frog his brother when the Ferrari made the first of three, quick stops.  Michael's only other challenge came from Kimi Raikkone whose McLaren was two-stopping, but that challenge faded in the latter half of the race and he finished second with Rubens Barrichello close behind.

Fourth was Ralf Schumacher, his challenge disappearing as he lost ground during pit stops, including one where he appeared to almost stall the engine.  David Coulthard was a distant fifth in his McLaren, challenging Ralf until the end, while Fernando Alonso was a distant sixth in his Renault.  Juan Pablo Montoya finished seventh in spite of making four pit stops when one of the planned three went wrong, while Jensen Button scored the final championship point for BAR.  Team mate Jacques Villeneuve was the first retirement.

Pos Driver Team Time
1 MSchumacher Ferrari 1:28.12.058
2 Raikkonen McLaren -1.8s
3 Barrichello Ferrari -2.2s
4 RSchumacher Williams -6.5s
5 Coulthard McLaren -9.4s
6 Alonso Renault -43.6s
7 Montoya Williams -45.2s
8 Button BAR -1 lap
9 Panis Toyota -1 lap
10 Heidfeld Sauber -1 lap
11 Frentzen Sauber -1 lap
12 Da Matta Toyota -1 lap
13 Trulli Renault -1 lap
14 Pizzonia Jaguar -2 laps
15 Fisichella Jordan Ford -5 laps
DNF Webber Jaguar -8 laps
DNF Firman Jordan Ford -11 laps
DNF Verstappen Minardi -24 laps
DNF Wilson Minardi -39 laps
DNF Villeneuve BAR -43 laps

20 Apr 2003 15:50

Jordan Grand Prix