Old Circuits
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As once the case in Argentina, the success of a Formula One driver also led to the opening of a track in Brazil. Although the track was there long before his birth, it took the success of Emerson Fittapaldi to bring Formula One to it. Set in the suburbs of San Paulo, the original track was 4.949 miles in length, one of the longest of any track used in any era. It was made up of a sweeping outer section, followed by a tight and twisty trail through the infield. The track is very bumpy, and it takes great reflexes and skill to have control of the car in any given situation, the tight corners posing some serious problems for the speeding machines. A chicane has since been placed at the first corner, to slow the cars down. Ayrton Senna drove his maiden race for Williams at this track. He had already achieved his dream of winning his home race in 1991 and again in horrendous conditions in 1993. Although he had hoped to win with Williams, it wasn't to be, and Michael Schumacher won the first race of his championship year. Schumacher took the win in 2000 with David Coulthard a close second only to be later disqualified for excessive underbody wear on his McLaren. |
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Fans will always remember the 2001 event as the then rookie Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya made a daring
move on Michael Schumacher. In wet conditions the Colombian passed the Ferrari on a restart, and would surely have won
the event, only the third race of his F1 career, if not for a collision with the Arrows of Jos Verstappen as the Williams
driver attempted to put a lap on the Dutchman. David Coulthard went on to win the event for McLaren while Michael
Schumacher was back to his winning ways in 2002.
Giancarlo Fisichella secured his very first Grand Prix victory - and Jordan's final win - in the 2003 event, despite the fact that Kimi Raikkonen was initially declared the winner in a confusing accident strewn event. Tricky weather conditions added to the spice in 2004 with Juan Pablo Montoya coming through to take his only win of the season with BMW Williams with Kimi Raikkonen taking the second position just a second further back. Local hero Rubens Barrichello claimed the Pole Position but on race day had to be content with third position for Ferrari and his first finish at the circuit since 1994. Montoya was mighty again in 2005 taking the win from McLaren team-mate Raikkonen while third placed Fernando Alonso did enough to wrap up his first championship success and become the sport's youngest ever World Champion. |
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