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Some drivers love Monaco, some hate it Posted: Friday May 24, 2002 12:11 PMMONTE CARLO, Monaco (AP) -- BMW Williams' driver Ralf Schumacher was just the latest to say that driving a Formula One car through the narrow twisting streets of Monte Carlo is like flying a helicopter in your bedroom. The Monaco Grand Prix is the one race on the circuit the drivers either love or hate. It's the slowest, the most technically demanding, the most glamorous, a street race through the spectacular hilly city of Monte Carlo where drivers have been known to plunge right into the bay. In short, some say Monaco is a throwback to an earlier age. "Monaco isn't an up-to-date race anymore, but maybe it is a race that relates to the spirit of a different age," Schumacher said. "The atmosphere is impressive, even I don't particularly like racing here." Some racers thrive here, amid the parties, glitz and pretty girls, like Eddie Irvine. He unexpectedly drove his Jaguar to third last year, sharing the podium with two Ferraris. "Monaco is fantastic. I love it both on the track and off," said Irvine. "I go to Monaco expecting nothing," said his teammate, Pedro de la Rosa. "I have bad memories here due to my four consecutive crashes. My priority is simply to finish the most tiring unpredictable race of the season." Saturday's qualifying will be crucial, everyone says, although Thursday's practice times gave little hint who will gain pole position. The top finishers, with the course slick from downpours, probably won't be the ones that dominate qualifying. Renault's Jarmo Trulli posted the best time, followed by Allan McNish in a Panasonic-Toyota and David Coulthard in a McLaren-Mercedes. But even if Michael Schumacher, seeking his record-tying sixth win at Monaco, and teammate Ruben Barrichello top the grid in their Ferrari F2002 as expected some say the race still remains unpredictable. "Qualifying is the key to the race and failing that, making it to the end can sometimes reap reward," Irvine said. "Climbing up the field can be tricky here, but you can rely on the attrition of others." As the F1 cars roar through the hairpin curves on the streets of Monte Carlo, there are plenty of accidents, like the 1980 start that wiped out half the field. Irvine pointed out that overtaking is difficult, but that didn't stop Barrichello in 1999. Driving a Stewart-Ford that year, he qualified in tenth, but finished second. Juan Pablo Montoya, chasing Michael Schumacher for the drivers' title, had bad memories of last year's Monaco. The Williams' driver crashed out in the second lap. "It was a difficult weekend for me. I thought initially it would be a lot more fun than it was, and in fact, it was extremely hard work," the Colombian said. "It's a very fancy weekend and a glamorous event but maybe it's a bit too classy and I am not really that kind of person." The Grand Prix has been run since 1929 in the small principality. Modern times have encroached in some ways, like power steering that prevents the driver's blistered hands, a result of two hours of mastering the hairpin curves. New barriers along the bay make it unlikely there will be a repeat of 1955, when Alberto Ascari's Lancio sailed into the harbor, or ten years later, when Australian Paul Hawkins repeated the feat in a Lotus. But just in case, divers are still in the water on the straightaway where it took place. Monaco is perhaps the Formula One race most desired by the drivers and teams. Williams hasn't won in Monte Carlo since 1983, when Keke Rosberg drove one of their cars to victory in his only title that year. "It is a race I would personally like us to win, although it is not a classic race in the normal sense," said Patrick Head, the team's technical director. Head called Monaco a great test of mental disciple for the driver, mechanics and engineers. Then there's all the distractions. "There is an awful lot of glad handing and sponsor commitments," Head said. "I'm not heavily into Gucci and champagne, but I love the boats and a bit of razzmatazz. There are pretty girls to took at as well. I have to say I love a grand prix to be different." Monaco is also regarded as the best Formula One event for spectators, with the stands right on top of course and a backdrop of yachts in the harbor and the palace of the ruling family as the backdrop. "There are no pits to speak of and teams have to work almost on the street," said Mario Theissen of BMW. "For the spectators, Monaco is absolutely fascinating but for the teams it is the worst race of the year."
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