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24-may-2001
Preview - Monaco Grand Prix 2001 Season Wednesday 23 - Sunday 27 May 2001.
Possibly the most colourful and glamorous Grand Prix on the seventeen race calendar, Monaco has hosted this race since 1955. The famous street circuit is lined by Armco barriers, making it a tight and twisty track that is unforgiving as there are no gravel traps or run off areas. Driving precision is therefore vital and it is a tough race all round. For drivers it's incredibly demanding as there is very little time to relax as the corners come up so fast, with the narrow track requiring great concentration. Cars need to run with maximum downforce on this circuit as the average corner speeds are low and heavy braking is required. It's almost impossible to overtake as there is only one very short straight and that's under the tunnel. The pit lane is hazardous being so narrow, so team personnel must be on guard at all times.
Following aerodynamic development testing in Valencia, all four EJ11 cars in Monaco will run with several new aerodynamic parts.
Heinz-Harald Frentzen on the Monaco Grand Prix
'You need huge concentration to race in Monaco. It's a demanding and risky circuit, but that's what makes it enjoyable. Monaco is definitely the highlight of the F1 calendar. My mental preparation for this race starts much earlier than for other races as living in Monaco, I drive along these roads most days. Scenarios and questions about the track and corners will whizz through my mind for weeks before the race.'
Jarno Trulli on the Monaco Grand Prix
'Monaco is a very special race and you want and need everything to run smoothly, as if you make one small mistake you will damage the car and hinder running time. Every year you want to improve on the last year's performance. The track is unforgiving and there is no time to relax as the car needs constant attention.'
You can bet on Jordan -- and other teams -- through Jordan's official e-betting partner, Eurobet. If you are a UK resident, go to www.eurobet.co.uk. If not, place your bets through Eurobet's international site, www.eurobet.com.
LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES
For the first time since 1995, the Jordan team will experience the tough logistical operation faced by all but the top four teams located on the harbour front, as it is spread over three locations - the pit lane, a multi-storey coach park and the paddock - each one kilometre apart. 'Co-ordination of this race is more difficult and similar to a fly-away, as the team's transporters and working areas are not arranged with a standard European paddock layout,' explains Jim Vale, Race Team Manager.
The main garage and trucks are located in a multi-storey coach park, a one kilometre up-hill walk from the pit lane, so the cars have to be towed up and down between the two places for track sessions. Vale continued, 'You end up with two separate garage set-ups - one for the pit lane garage and one for the coach park garage where we work on the cars, neither of which are ideal locations. We therefore have to take double the usual equipment.'
The tight and twisty nature of the circuit with no gravel traps or run off areas means that Jordan will take a fourth car to cope with the increased risk of damage from drivers running into Armco or a wall. 'It's advisable to have a fourth car so each driver has a spare for the race if required, which also increases the amount of parts and spares teams carry. As we can't store much in the small pit lane garages, larger parts are left in the multi-storey. We'll have a team member up there with a radio who can jump on a scooter and deliver parts if required.'
With the truckies mainly located in the pit lane, mechanics and engineers in the multi-storey and drivers in the paddock between track sessions, managing the team can be a complex task for Jim Vale. 'Because of the work load and working environment in Monaco we have five additional mechanics and two further truckies. Teamwork is strong within Jordan and all team members have very defined roles and are incredibly skilled at their tasks, which makes the co-ordination of activities an enjoyable challenge,' commented Vale.
CHASSIS DETAILS FOR THIS RACE
Heinz-Harald Frentzen: EJ11 chassis 06
Jarno Trulli: EJ11 chassis 05
T-car: (Thursday Practice - set up for HHF) (Sunday Race - set-up for JT) EJ11 chassis 02
T-car: (Saturday Qualifying - set up for HHF) (Sunday Race - set up for HHF) EJ11 chassis 04
LATEST TESTING INFORMATION
The three Benson and Hedges Jordan Honda drivers tested the EJ11 cars in a productive four-day test at Valencia following the Austrian Grand Prix, each working through suspension geometry, tyre testing for Bridgestone and general car set-up work for Monaco. Heinz-Harald Frentzen drove for the first three days. Ricardo Zonta drove for the first, second and fourth days with the addition of aerodynamic parts evaluation to his testing schedule, furthered by Jarno Trulli during the final two days. The three drivers carried out successful practice launch control starts from the pit lane exit and the team was satisfied with its achievements.
CIRCUIT INFORMATION
Circuit de Monaco, Automobile Club de Monaco, 23 Bild Albert 1er, B.P. 464, 98012, Monaco
Circuit Length: 3.370 km
Race Distance: 3.370 km x 78 laps = 262.86 km
Jordan Grand Prix
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