June 7 - 9, 2002

Race Notes

JV's Canadian jinx

Jacques Villeneuve's Canadian Grand Prix jinx struck again today when an engine problem forced him to retire from his home race after just 8 laps. The team took some comfort from Olivier Panis' first race finish of the season and the first signs of improvement with the new evolution of the BAR004.

"Obviously I'm disappointed not to finish my home Grand Prix again, especially just 8 laps into the race. We were running heavy for a one-stop strategy so I lost places at the beginning. Then we had the first signs of a loss of oil pressure and a couple of laps later the engine stopped. It's frustrating to have such a bad race after the improvement we saw in qualifying."

Olivier was happy to have chalked up a finish at the eighth attempt this year.

He said: "I'm relieved to finally finish a race after such a bad start to my season. It was very tough today but the car was reliable and I think we chose the right strategy for us. I was obviously running heavy at the start so I lost some places to some two-stoppers.

"It would have been nicer to get a point for the team but I'm pleased to see the progress we have made this weekend. I want to thank the team for the effort they put into this race.

"We know where we are with the new car now so we have to keep pushing and continue to improve so we can get both cars to the finish."

Technical director Geoffrey Willis said the team still had some way to go before he was totally satisfied with the performance of the 004.

He said: "On the positive side, it was good to get Olivier to the finish for the first time this year so well done to the team for their efforts. It is obviously disappointing that Jacques wasn't able to finish his home grand prix once again and we still haven't been able to secure our first points.

"I'm pleased that we have seen some improvement with the new car but we still have a lot of work ahead of us."

Team principal David Richards added: "A mixed weekend but on the whole it is encouraging to see that all the new modifications to the car appear to have moved us in the right direction. It's good to see Olivier take the chequered flag but disappointing for Jacques to retire in front of his home crowd.

"I'm confident that we can now improve our performance still further given the progress we've made this weekend. With Honda's new engine just around the corner, we should soon have all the ingredients we need to regularly challenge for points."

BAR

Race Results

Warm-Up Times

Qualifying Notes

Jacques Villeneuve
"I'm definitely pleased with our performance today. I was a little bit worried yesterday because we were playing around with fuel but we did better than I expected today. We managed to improve the car overnight and that gave us an acceptable qualifying today, so I'm quite happy. It was too bad that we had an engine problem on the last run because we timed it just right before the rain came and could have improved the lap. I think we're in a position to fight in the race tomorrow and hopefully get a point. We're not quick enough down the straights but we're in a good position overall."

Olivier Panis
"After the first signs of improvement with the car on Friday, I felt we had the potential for a top 10 qualifying position today. Jacques proved that to be the case and I had the car to do the same, so I'm disappointed with 11th. I had a gearshift problem at the end of my first lap which we corrected in time for the 2nd run. The first two sectors of my 2nd and 3rd runs were very good but we just couldn't squeeze more on the third sector. We turned the car around quickly for my last run but it started raining when I left the garage. Still, we have to look on the positive side and be pleased with the improvement in the overall package."

Geoffrey Willis, Technical Director
"We're reasonably happy with what we've achieved today, which is our best team qualifying result of the season. We had hoped to do a little better and put both cars inside the top 10, but we did at least see the realistic potential for that today. Without Jacques' engine problem on the last run, we certainly had room for further improvement. We're in a good position for tomorrow so our aim is to get both cars home and be there to make the most of a points-scoring opportunity."

David Richards, Team Principal
"We achieved a solid qualifying performance today which confirmed the view that we are heading in the right direction with the latest evolution of the car. We are in a good position to challenge for points tomorrow and, with Jacques performing in front of his home crowd, let's hope we can deliver a good result."

Saturday Practice Times

JV at Friday's Press Conference

Q: Jacques, today has been positive, hasn't it?
JV: Yeah, we end up being quick on Friday but by taking fuel out, so it looks good.

Q: What about the modifications that have been made to the car?
JV: They feel good, they definitely feel good and it's an improvement. I think it's the first time in four years where you feel there's an improvement on the car, so that is a very nice thing, but I think it will be very, very difficult for us to be in the top ten tomorrow because I don't think we are that competitive.

Q: Is it that the modifications haven't been tested enough or they are not going to bring you that much?
JV: No, they bring us a bunch. If we didn't have them we would be even slower, that's what I was saying. Don't think that we have modifications nobody else has. We've made a step forward but everybody else has. Hopefully our step forward is bigger than the opposition's, so even if we have a six, seven, eight tenths better car, for example, anybody else will have a half second car better, that's only three tenths difference. It's not the whole eight tenths so I'm not sure exactly what is the difference anyway. So don't expect a major leap. If we qualified comfortably before 14th, 15th, 16th, then now we will be 12th.

Q: What about the new Honda engine Otmar was talking about?
JV: We tested it in Silverstone and we weren't happy running it here because we didn't put enough miles on it so it wasn't ready to be raced.

Q: Will that bring you into the top ten?
JV: Well, it definitely wasn't... we weren't running it in full spec at the test, so the way it was at the test, no.

Q: Is there still pressure for you here as much as at other Grands Prix?
JV: Well, this year there is pressure at every race because we haven't been capable of being close enough to the points anywhere. So there's not extra pressure coming here. Of course, after today, because people think we are competitive now because we had a good Friday, there will be pressure tomorrow and I expect a little bit of disappointment tomorrow.

Q: So you are busily disarming everybody?
JV: No, it's just that with this new package it was important to see how the car worked. We did a lot of brake work because last year we had tremendous trouble with brakes somehow, so we checked that in the morning and everything was fine. So in the afternoon it was important to see if the car changed with low fuel, and to see how quick we could go, so we could learn in one day everything about this new package.

Q: So there weren't too many surprises running it with low fuel?
JV: No, no, the car felt good with and without fuel, which is a good thing, so now we can just concentrate on doing the set-up and we will know that whatever set-up works for qualifying will work for the race as well.

Q: Despite your troubles at BAR, every time you come here you are treated as a hero. How does it feel to have people sticking behind you and what are the reasons for that?
JV: It is great that the crowd is still positive after four very bad years. There is a little bit of a family feeling with the fans here and I think that is what has helped to keep everybody motivated. I guess they just have fun. They come here, they are cheering the racing, they are cheering anytime there is an overtaking move, whenever someone does a good lap, it is just a very positive crowd. Maybe it is because of the end of winter or something.

Q: It's not because of you?
JV: I don't know but, of course, the welcome is definitely warmer here for me than anywhere else, but I think everybody that comes here feels the people in a warmer way, the mechanics, everybody who comes here for the race enjoys coming here and looks forward to this race, so there must be a reason.

Q: Jacques. Do you still feel you have a lot to do in Formula One?
JV: Yeah, definitely. Win more races and more championships. That's the reason for any driver, or for most drivers, racing. Having done it once is definitely not enough.

Q: Jacques and Jenson. Can you give your point of view about the pit lane exit as well?
JV: I am quite happy with the exit of the pit lane. It might be a little bit more difficult when you come out and the track is dusty, but you don't destroy somebody else's lap in practice or qualifying and that is the main thing.

Q: Jacques. If I am not mistaken, this time last year you were a little more optimistic about the potential for progress at BAR and you don't seem that way today. What has changed and...
JV: I actually am more positive with the progress possible with the team now since we have all the new technical people in place. I think that finally the team can make a step forward. Now, we still have to see what the engine is capable of and I think everyone working hard at Honda has realised

Friday Practice Notes

Jacques Villeneuve
"The car definitely feels better than it did previously and the new aero package gives us more stability. However, we had a different strategy to a typical Friday so our lap times today aren't that representative. Because we have a new package, it was important for us to do a comparison between high and low fuel to find out now if there is any difference in the way the car feels. That way, we don't have any surprises tomorrow. Today has been a good start with a new car but we have to be prepared for the fact that we may not look quite as competitive tomorrow. Qualifying will give us a more accurate picture of where we are compared to everybody else."

Olivier Panis
"We've had a good first day with the new car and we've been able to put in a lot of laps again. The new aero package certainly helped us to get better grip today and the car feels a lot more stable going into the corners, so we have to feel encouraged by that. We did a lot of work with the tyres as we usually do on a Friday but we were trying lots of other things today to ensure we know as much as possible about the car ready for tomorrow. I have to thank the team for all the hard work that has been done to get the new aero package ready for Canada, especially the people back at the factory."

Geoffrey Willis, Technical Director
"It's always difficult to get a true picture on a Friday but so far, so good. We're pleased with where we are in terms of brakes, cooling and balance and both drivers are happy to see some improvement with the car. There's more stability and a little more mid-corner grip so we're pleased with what we've achieved today. We have to switch focus to tomorrow now when we'll get a better idea of where we are."

David Richards, Team Principal
"Today saw the first major evolution of the car this year and I'm sure it is a step in the right direction. It's a credit to all the team, particularly those back at base who worked throughout the holiday weekend to complete all the parts that will allow Jacques and Olivier to race with the new specification this weekend. It's now down to the drivers to make the best of the package."

Jacques' Lap of Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve

For Lucky Strike B.A.R Honda's Jacques Villeneuve there's no place quite like Montreal, and this year, as ever, he's been looking forward to heading back there to catch up with friends and soak up the atmosphere.

"It always feels good going to Montreal but not just because of the race," says Jacques. "Montreal is a lovely place. At that time of the year it's the beginning of summer. Everyone's happy to be out in the sunshine and there's a really great atmosphere."

Few drivers are as closely associated with one race as Jacques Villeneuve is with the Canadian GP. The fact that the venue is called Circuit Gilles Villeneuve says it all. The local crowd adored his father, and Jacques has proved just as popular with the loyal Canadian fans. Jacques in turn enjoys racing in front of them when he takes part in his home Grand Prix and here talks us through a lap of the circuit:

"Montreal is a track of very heavy braking and very slow corners. Those are its general characteristics.

"Arriving at turn one you have to brake hard but it's a corner that you carry speed into as well. The slowest part of that first sector is the second right-hander and the way you drive that first part determines whether you drive the hairpin well or not.

"The hairpin itself is not very important because it only has very short acceleration to another chicane, which is the quickest chicane of the track. It's a little bit of a blind corner and goes downhill as you turn so it's very difficult to get right. After that chicane there's a high-speed kink, which is usually taken flat out without lifting at all. It's still an important corner though because if you get out of shape you'll have a hard time braking for the next corner. You have to hit the brakes at the exit of the corner to go into a tight chicane and then it's foot to the floor because that chicane gives you speed for the straight, at the end of which there's an overtaking opportunity.

"You brake heavily from over 300 kms into a second gear tight chicane. This chicane can give you speed on the next straight line, which is important because it gives you another overtaking opportunity that comes during the very heavy braking for L'Epingle the slowest corner of the track.

"L'Epingle is a very tight hairpin and another good overtaking opportunity. You can't afford to make a mistake in braking here either because it gives you good speed for the longest straight of the track. You reach speeds of between 320 kms and 330 kms down that straight and brake heavily for a mid-speed chicane that is also the entrance to the pits. It's quite difficult because you have to carry a lot of speed into it and then change direction quickly. A lot of drivers have had accidents there, me included, so it's a difficult corner to drive."

BAR Race Preview

Few drivers are as closely associated with one race as Jacques Villeneuve is with the Canadian Grand Prix.

The fact that the venue is called Circuit Gilles Villeneuve says it all. Jacques loves to race in front of his home crowd, however, the circuit has been less than kind to the French-Canadian since his second place finish in 1996. He has made it to the chequered flag three times in six races here. In 2001, he endured brake trouble for much of the race before a driveshaft problem finally forced him to retire.

The Canadian Grand Prix is a real handful for all of the drivers though and Olivier Panis has also had his fair share of frustrations here. Last year, in his first season with Lucky Strike B.A.R Honda, the Frenchman was running 5th when this notoriously demanding circuit also began to take its toll on his brakes. His race came to an abrupt end after 38 laps.

Despite the challenges that Canada will undoubtedly present, Lucky Strike B.A.R Honda will arrive in Montréal with renewed determination. The team have identified the control software problem that led to Jacques' retirement in Monaco and have put the disappointment of two DNFs behind them to concentrate all their efforts on preparing the new evolution of the BAR004 for this next Grand Prix.

The BAR004 retains the original chassis but features the latest evolution of the Honda engine, a new aerodynamic kit and a revised gearbox and rear suspension. Fundamentally, the changes are to address a mechanical problem with the clutch operation which has afflicted the team since testing began in January. In the process, the wheel base of the car has been changed and the rear suspension has been modified accordingly. At the same time, there is a new bodywork kit, comprising sidepods, diffuser and barge-boards bringing a useful step in performance but also in an effort to address some car instability problems.

During a four-day test at Paul Ricard this week (29th May - 1st June), Olivier Panis and Anthony Davidson gradually incorporated more elements of the final Canada specification. Jacques Villeneuve and Patrick Lemarié focused on set-up, tyres and suspension during a simultaneous test at Silverstone. It is too early to fully appraise the new car after such a short amount of testing but the early signs have been encouraging in terms of pure drivability.

Jacques Villeneuve
"I was testing at Silverstone this week so I haven't been able to drive the new car yet, but I'm looking forward to first practice on Friday. The changes to the car won't solve all our problems but we should be a little more competitive for the rest of the season so we're in a better position to take advantage of opportunities.

"I always enjoy my home Grand Prix so I'm looking forward to the weekend. This is a good track to race on. Not so much to qualify on, because it's not very interesting, but for racing there are a lot of overtaking opportunities.

"Montréal is one of my favourite towns and I love the people. It's great to be back home again."

Olivier Panis
"I am pleased that we have the new car ready for Canada. I tested an intermediate specification at Paul Ricard this week and we made good progress, although it is too early to see exactly what the new developments will bring in terms of performance. It felt good to drive though, which is an improvement in itself.

"I'm not making any predictions for the race because this is a tough circuit for all of the teams. We know we have to score some points soon but we have a new car to work with and the first priority will be making sure we have reliability to finish the race."

David Richards, Team Principal
"Monaco was a tough weekend and we were very disappointed to leave empty-handed. We have identified the source of Jacques' problem but for Olivier, it was another case of bad luck.

"We go to Montréal with the new evolution car and engine and, whilst we are under no illusions that it will cure all our problems, we are optimistic that it will go some way towards reversing our fortunes this season. The team have worked incredibly hard to meet the Canada deadline and I hope we can reward their efforts with a strong race on Sunday."

The Circuit

Race Distance - 69 Laps. 189.543 miles (305.049km)
Circuit Length - 2.747 miles (4.421 km)

The Canadian Grand Prix is run on a temporary circuit situated on l'Île de Notre-Dame - a man-made island in the middle of the St Lawrence Seaway, close to central Montréal. Set among lakes and park pavilions used in the Expo '67, and alongside the 1976 Olympic Games rowing basin, this unusual track has frequently been the scene of high drama. The start of the race is usually incident-packed, with four opening lap collisions in the last five years. Generally though, drivers enjoy the track, which gives reasonable overtaking opportunities and requires medium levels of downforce. However, it is unlikely that the hard-working Formula One teams share their drivers' enthusiasm. With so many fast blasts, slow chicanes and hairpins, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is now even harder on brakes, gearboxes and cooling systems and has a reputation for being a real car-breaker.