September 12 - 14, 2003

Race Notes

Lucky Strike B*A*R Honda collected three crucial championship points in Monza today after Jacques Villeneuve finished the Italian Grand Prix in sixth place. He drove a hard-fought and fault-free race from start to finish, helping the team to maintain fifth place in the Constructors' Championship, doubling his own Drivers' Championship points tally in the process.

His team-mate Jenson Button was less fortunate. Despite equaling his second best qualifying position of the season yesterday, his seventh place advantage on the grid was compromised by a bad start initially, followed by gearbox failure after 24 laps.

Jacques Villeneuve
"I'm really pleased to finish sixth today and get three more Championship points for the team. The race was a great team effort and the guys did a fantastic job during the pitstops.

"We didn't qualify as well as we hoped yesterday but we were working for the race, so it was great to stay reliable and be able to make the most of a good race set-up. Let's hope we can build on that at Indianapolis in two weeks now."

Jenson Button
"I lost second gear early in the race so I had to rely on first. I was doing quite well considering, and I managed to stay ahead of Frentzen and Panis, then I lost first, sixth and seventh in close succession. It's a real shame after such a positive qualifying performance because I felt that we could easily have achieved points-finishes for both cars today. Jacques did a good job though and three points for the team is still very important at this stage. We have to maintain the momentum in testing next week now and make sure we do as good a job in Indy and Japan."

David Richards, Team Principal
"We achieved our target with a solid haul of points for Jacques, which now moves us ahead in the fight for fifth place in the Championship. Jenson's retirement was disappointing given the strength of both cars today, and of course a lost opportunity, but nonetheless our improved performance bodes well for the remaining two events of the season."

Geoffrey Willis, Technical Director
"This is a very good result for Jacques and the team, which has allowed us to widen the gap to Toyota and keeps us in front of Jaguar in the fight for fifth place in the championship. Jacques benefited from a clean exit from the first chicane to pass Jenson and Webber as they were fighting for track position through Curva Grande. He was able to jump Panis at the first pitstop after running for longer and a better stop, and he drove a fault-free race to finish in sixth position."

"Jenson reported problems with downshifting into second gear shortly before his first stop. Unfortunately these problems caused terminal mechanical damage to the gearbox, causing him to retire after 24 laps. We had a good car here and both cars qualified in the top ten, so it is disappointing to not make the most of a solid points-scoring opportunity. We will continue to work hard for the last two races to consolidate our fifth place standing."

Shuhei Nakamoto, Engineering Director, Honda Racing Development
"Jacques drove a steady race today and I'm pleased we've picked up some more points at this crucial stage of the championship. Not a good day for Jenson. We will have a challenging final two races."

BAR

Race Results

Saturday Qualifying Notes

Jenson Button will lead Lucky Strike B*A*R Honda's fight to maintain fifth place in the constructors' championship tomorrow after putting his B*A*R Honda 005 on the fourth row of the grid for the Italian Grand Prix. He posted the seventh fastest time in today's final qualifying session, equaling his second best qualifying position of the year and marking a return to the strong qualifying form he demonstrated in the first half of the season. His team-mate Jacques Villeneuve also achieved a solid qualifying performance and will line up behind Jenson on the fifth row in 10th place.

Today's result also marks the team's third best combined qualifying performance of the season and sees both cars back in the top ten.

The gusty conditions which afflicted the teams in yesterday's running had subsided today and the weather remained warm and sunny throughout. Track temperature reached 47°C during the qualifying hour, with ambient temperature peaking at 27°C. Jacques was eighth in line to take to the track, whilst Jenson emerged from the pitlane tenth.

Jacques Villeneuve
"I'm quite happy with my lap; it was much better than yesterday. I made a small mistake in the second chicane when the brakes reacted differently to how they did during free practice this morning. The car wasn't working well earlier. We had a few problems and we just about got it right for warm- up, then as the temperature went up my car seemed to work better. If it's like this for the race we should be OK for a points-finish."

Jenson Button
"I'm really happy with seventh. It's been a while since I've done a really good qualifying lap so it feels great and I'm really pleased for the team. It felt like a very smooth lap and that's what you need here. It felt like I hung it all together and it's fantastic to be starting from the fourth row of the grid, which is where we should be. Tomorrow is a crucial opportunity for us. We have a good strategy and can definitely get points, so we'll be pulling out all the stops to take us a step closer to fifth in the championship."

David Richards, Team Principal
"It's great to have both the cars back in the top ten and to have qualified so well versus our key competitors in the fight for fifth place. Both Jacques and Jenson have the opportunity to score well in the race, and I will certainly feel much more comfortable if we consolidate our championship position. Today's performance is a direct result of all the hard work that Honda and the test team put in last week here at Monza."

Geoffrey Willis, Technical Director:
"It's good to have both cars qualifying in the top ten once again. After a disappointing session yesterday we had to spend a lot of time last night identifying the sources of the problem, and so made quite a number of changes to the car for today. This morning, Jenson was a lot happier with his car, Jacques rather less so. By warm-up, however, we were happy that we had a good set-up on both cars. We resisted the temptation to make any changes and were rewarded with a very good lap from Jenson and a solid performance from Jacques. We are confident that we have a good set-up and strategy for tomorrow and we'll be aiming for a points finish with both cars."

Shuhei Nakamoto, Engineering Director, Honda Racing Development
"That was a pretty good session - both drivers were pushing really hard and it's great to be back in the top ten. We're getting positive feedback on the latest evolution of the engine and things are going well. Our strategy looks okay so we've got a good chance to fight for a few points tomorrow."

Warm-Up Times

Saturday Practice Times

First Session

Second Session

Friday Qualifying Notes

Lucky Strike B*A*R Honda drivers Jenson Button and Jacques Villeneuve ended the day 11th and 13th respectively in today's first qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix. After a very positive test in Monza last week, the team had been hoping for a better start to the last round of the European season and were particularly disappointed that Jacques lost valuable track time in this morning's free practice session due to an electrical problem.

The weather conditions at the legendary Monza circuit remained warm and sunny throughout the day, but with gusty winds making the car inconsistent. Track temperature peaked at 45°C during the qualifying hour, with the ambient temperature reaching 27°C. Jenson was the 10th driver to join the track for his single-lap run, in respect of his position in the drivers' championship, whilst his team-mate Jacques left the pitlane 15th in line.

Their placings today determine their positions for the start of tomorrow's final qualifying session, for which Jacques will leave the garage eighth in line with Jenson following him as the tenth car out on track.

Jacques Villeneuve
"Today is not a very satisfying day because we didn't complete our programme in free practice this morning due to an electrical problem. Because of that we weren't able to run in qualy spec, so this afternoon it was just a case of trying to complete a clean lap to leave us in a reasonable position for the start of final qualifying. Hopefully we will get a better day tomorrow without any problems and that should make all the difference."

Jenson Button
"It was quite a good lap but I'm a little bit disappointed because I was quicker in free practice. There was a lot less grip out there this afternoon and I had quite a lot of understeer in the high speed corners. It's only Friday though and we're a little more optimistic for the rest of the weekend. There were quite a lot of fallen leaves and gusty winds out there today, so when the track picks up tomorrow we should be able to qualify in the top 10 quite easily. Last week in testing we found a tyre that is consistent and when all of those factors come together I'm sure we can do a lot better."

David Richards, Team Principal
"We obviously need to try to understand where we lost time compared with free practice this morning, when we appeared to be as competitive as we were in last week's testing. I'm sure that tomorrow morning's two sessions will resolve this and we will be far stronger for the race."

Geoffrey Willis, Technical Director
"This was a disappointing qualifying session for us today and we have a lot of work to do this evening. Following on directly from our test here last week it is often risky to draw conclusions until track conditions stabilise, however we were fairly happy with the car in the morning. Jacques lost a little track time at the end of the morning when we located an electrical problem. We are still optimistic that we can be more competitive during the rest of the weekend."

Shuhei Nakamoto, Engineering Director, Honda Racing Development
"Unfortunately we haven't managed to match the time we set this morning. However, we've got the potential to do well here and I'm looking forward to a challenging and rewarding weekend."

Friday Practice Times

JV's Lap of Monza

"Monza is a great racer's circuit and is the last really high-speed race on the calendar today. It has a very special atmosphere and provides a real challenge with some good fun sections."

"Having crossed the start/finish line at around 320km/h, you accelerate towards the first corner, reaching a speed of nearly 355km/h before braking very hard for the very tight first chicane. Braking is at over 4G for this corner and you're on the brakes for over 110 metres before taking the corner at less than 70km/h in first gear."

"At the first chicane you need to cut the corner by jumping on the kerbs. This is important in achieving a quick lap time. A good exit from the second part of the chicane is crucial because of the following long straight."

"You remain in first gear for the second part of the chicane before accelerating through Curva Grande, which is easily taken flat, and approaching the second chicane - the Variante della Roggia - at around 330km/h. Again it's hard on the brakes, and then into second gear at 95km/h for the first part of the chicane."

"There then follows a short fourth gear straight where you reach up to 260km/h by the end and this leads into the first of the Lesmo corners. You brake slightly before the first Lesmo and turn into the right-hand corner in third gear at 165km/h. The first Lesmo is quite fast and banked, but not as fast as it used to be. The area between the two Lesmo corners has a lot of shadow, because of the trees, so the temperature of the track can be different there."

"You then accelerate through fourth gear to just under 260km/h before dropping down to third gear for the second Lesmo corner, which is taken at around 150km/h. The second Lesmo is slower than it used to be - it was a lot faster and you used to take it in 5th but it is now a 3rd gear corner. The exit out of the second Lesmo is important because of the long straight that goes through the Curva del Seraglio and leads to the Ascari chicane."

"You then drive through this long, very narrow straight, and you go under the bridge which carries the old banked circuit. At the end of this straight you reach 335km/h in sixth gear before you break hard for the Ascari chicane, dropping to third gear and turning left to take the first part of the chicane at 140km/h."

"You then turn right for the second at 180km/h, before quickly turning left again as you come out of this chicane. The Variante Ascari is the fastest chicane of the Monza circuit. You must get it right at Ascari, because it's a sequence of corners left, right and left, and if you get the first or second one wrong then you have a bad exit and you don't have the speed on the next straight. Then you just try to get on the gas. It depends very much on the front end of the car, because you don't want too much understeer."

"Thus, you need to come as quickly as possible out of Ascari and drive over the kerbs and use all the road to carry the revs with you for another long straight that leads down to the Parabolica. At the end of this straight you reach 340km/h before entering this very long Parabolica corner, the minimum speed of which is just under 160km/h."

"The Parabolica, one of the nicest corners on the Monza circuit, is a right hand corner which opens up as you go through. It is fast, very long and very important, because it ends and starts the lap. You brake much later than 100m, and you go through in third or fourth gear, depending on the ratios."

"You have to balance the car by playing with the throttle and your exit must be good enough to get the power down as early as possible, the same as with many other areas of the circuit. You have very low downforce, so you're either going to have oversteer or understeer there. It's probably the most important corner and a good exit is therefore imperative to carry good speed back onto the long pit straight."

BAR Race Preview

Nestling on the outskirts of Milan, legendary Monza, the spiritual home of motorsport in Italy, is the next pitstop for the Lucky Strike B*A*R Honda team, and the venue for next weekend's Italian Grand Prix, round 14 of the 2003 World Championship.

Monza is the fastest race on the F1 calendar with long, high-speed straights interspersed with tight chicanes and culminating with the famous final sweeping bend, Parabolica, which leads the drivers back out onto the front straight. It is a low-downforce circuit with a very smooth surface and drivers will be required to use full throttle for nearly 70 per cent of the lap.

The team has been working hard to prepare for Monza, using its full line-up of race and test drivers in a three-day test at the circuit this week. The team conducted comprehensive development work on all areas of the car, including aerodynamics, engine and intensive tyre assessment with Bridgestone.

Last year was a good race for B*A*R, with Olivier Panis picking up points for sixth place and Jacques Villeneuve finishing in ninth. Jenson finished the race in fifth position last year whilst Jacques has had a number of strong performances here, most recently finishing sixth with B*A*R in 2001.

Jacques Villeneuve 
"Monza is one of the places I know best in the calendar because I used to race there when I was in Formula Three. The people are very passionate about racing and it's a special place to compete. The track itself is very different to most other circuits. There are long straight lines between the corners, so you are almost less active and have time to relax."

"The last corner, Parabolica, is quite special. It's very difficult; visually you don't want to go there as there is a real danger element, and it's a difficult corner to get right. You can always go faster there than you actually do. Technically, you need support for the high-speed corners, but a set-up that can ride the kerbs at the tight chicanes. It's the only track which has very low downforce and so the car is lighter than the rest of the year."

Jenson Button
"Monza is one of the original tracks and is obviously very historical. It's very high-speed, and very different from most on the calendar today. For those reasons, it is a race that I really enjoy. The Italian fans are great, they always really get into the spirit of things and give the race a special atmosphere. For me, the best part of the circuit is the last corner, Parabolica. It's a great section to drive and is really fast and flowing. The most difficult part of the circuit is the left-right-left corner, Ascari. The car looked good on the track this week at the test and we've just got to work a little more to get the set-up right for race day."

David Richards, Team Principal
"The result in Hungary was not what we would have hoped for at this crucial point in the season, when our aim is to secure fifth in the constructers' championship. However, we now move to Monza, a circuit which is well-suited to our car and drivers. Both Jacques and Jenson, together with our test drivers, have been working tirelessly in testing at Monza this week to ensure that we achieve the best possible preparation for the Italian Grand Prix. We look forward to rewarding the considerable efforts of the team and our drivers with a positive result next weekend."

Geoffrey Willis, Technical Director
"The Italian Grand Prix at Monza is the only remaining true high-speed race left on the F1 calendar and this year will see the cars exceeding 355km/h in their low-drag trim. Set-up is a big compromise between high-speed straights and the low-speed chicanes. Due to the high speeds, low wing level and two slow chicanes, the circuit is very hard on brakes and with the long, high-speed sections engine reliability will be tested."

"The important areas for car handling are stability under braking, the ability to ride the kerbs well and good traction from low speed. The fact that the race is in September and the circuit lies in a park full of trees means that fallen leaves can block the radiator ducts. Generally this is a tough race with a significant number of retirements so we will be very focused on reliability."

Shuhei Nakamoto, Engineering Director, Honda Racing Development
"Overall we've had a good test at Monza and racked up a lot of mileage on all three cars. Monza puts the highest demands on engines of any track on the F1 calendar, so we're looking forward to the challenge and are ready to go."

Track Notes

Monza is regarded by many as the embodiment of Formula One racing. Not only is it a fantastic example of a track that combines speed with skill, it also has a heart and soul all its own. It has seen some of the finest races of all time, but also some of the sport's worst accidents. The names of the great drivers and the sounds of engines from years gone by linger in the grand old trees which surround the track in the royal park.

Work began on the track in 1922 and was completed in under half a year. After Brooklands and Indianapolis it was the third permanent race track in existence. With a banked oval track incorporated into the design of the road racing circuit, the total track length stood at a whopping 10 kilometres.

The list of famous victories and horrifying accidents is long, and all combine to make Monza one of the most magical places on the Formula One calendar. For many there is nowhere that encapsulates the sport better than this circuit. The Italians call it "La Pista Magica," the magic track, a description few would disagree with.

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