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Brazilian Grand Prix Preview
Posted: Tuesday April 06, 1999 05:32 PM
Date: April 11, 1999 Site: Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, Sao Paolo, Brazil Race: No. 2 of 16 in Grand Prix series TV: Speedvision, 11:00 a.m. EDT Laps: 72 Track length: 2.684 miles Race length: 190.80 miles
DRIVERS TO WATCHJean Alesi -- Finished in the points four times in 1998, in his second season with Sauber Petronas. Best showing was third in Italy. Seems to perform fairly well at the bumpy Brazilian track. Best result was runner-up in 1996. Was ninth last year and sixth in the season before. Other good efforts include third in 1994, fourth in 1992 and fifth in 1995. Only F1 victory came at the Canadian GP in 1995. Did not even get under way in Australia and retired right after the start. David Coulthard -- Disappointing start in 1999 at the Australian GP, forced to stop out on lap 14 with hydraulic failure. Started on the front row with McLaren teammate Mika Hakkinen. Finished runner-up to Hakkinen in this race last year. Strong 1998 season from a personal standpoint as well as team McLaren, which won the Constructors' championship. Was on the podium nine times, including victory at San Marino, six runners-up (five races to his title winning teammate) and two third-place finishes. Placed third in the World Drivers' championship with 56 points. This will be his 76th grand prix start (eight poles and four wins). Giancarlo Fisichella -- Second year with Benetton after previous runs with Jordan and Minardi. Is an emerging talent, taking second in Monaco and again Canada last year, where he perhaps might have taken the victory. Has one pole in 42 career starts. Placed a strong fourth in the opening race in Australia. Was sixth in Brazil in 1998. Heinz-Harald Frentzen -- Switched to Jordan after two years with Williams. Is a capable driver but lacks consistency as 1998 results showed -- started strong with a third in Australia (the German's top result of the season), and then did not finish in five consecutive races from Monaco to Austria. Has not yet fulfilled his potential having won just one grand prix, at Imola in 1997. Drove to an impressive second in Australia last month. Was fifth in Brazil. Mika Hakkinen -- Had eight wins amid a dominant McLaren year to get the double -- drivers' and constructors' championship. Led the standings from start to finish. Was on the podium 11 of 16 races and gained 100 points, 14 more than Michael Schumacher. The defending champion of the Brazilian GP from the pole. Was fourth in three prior years. Started from the pole in Australia, but was forced to retire due to a throttle problem. Damon Hill -- Victorious in Brazil in his 1996 F1 championship year. Also had second-place finishes in 1993 and 1994. Last year he was disqualified because of an underweight car, and did not finish in 1997. After car problems early last season were sorted out, he had four top six finishes in the last six races, including Jordan's first F1 win which came in Belgium. Son of two-time F1 champion Graham Hill. Eddie Irvine -- First F1 victory came in his 82nd start last month in Australia. The usually consummate No. 2 driver took the checkered flag after leading from lap 14 on. In 1998 was the example of consistency and support for teammate Michael Schumacher. Made the podium eight times (three runners-up), and had the best F1 season. Finished eight in Brazil, one lap behind the winner. Olivier Panis -- Started his F1 career with the 1994 race in Brazil. Is driving in his sixth season, now for team Prost, which bought the former Ligier team in 1997. This will be his 77th race. Has only one victory to show for, in Monaco 1996. Was a modest 12th in Brazil last year. Michael Schumacher -- Started the last two years without getting a point in Australia. He finished eighth, starting at the back of the grid after stalling before the second warm-up lap. Also suffered a broken right wing and a blown rear tire on lap 24. Will be making his 120th career grand prix start. His first race was Belgium in 1991 -- has two championships, 33 wins and 20 poles to show for, most among active drivers. Won six races and three poles in a strong campaign last season, but came up short of Mika Hakkinen. Battled the Finn all the way but his Ferrari stalled at the start of the Japan GP and was relegated to the back of the grid. Runs well in Brazil placing third in 1998, 1996, 1993, fifth in 1997. Won in 1994 and 1995 -- his championship years. Jacques Villeneuve -- In 1997 became the first Canadian to win the F1 World Championship, driving for Williams. Had a disappointing 1998 with Williams, but moved to the new British American Racing (BAR) team this season. Is pairing with newcomer Ricardo Zonta of Brazil. Best showings in 1998 were thirds in Germany and Hungary. One of the most colorful and exciting drivers on the circuit. In 1997, his championship year, he started from the pole, shook off a minor accident and a race restart, and drove to victory at Interlagos. Has 11 wins in 50 starts. Son of the late F1 racer Gilles Villeneuve. Alessandro Zanardi -- Finished 17th in his F1 return last month in Australia. Enjoyed three strong seasons on the CART series, winning two straight championships. This is the second stint on the F1 circuit after a short spell with the Lotus team. Driving under the revitalized Winfield Williams F1 teamming with up-and-coming Ralf Schumacher, Michael's brother. Has one point in 26 grand prix starts due to a sixth-place finish. Had a record-setting 1998 season in CART, winning a series-high seven races and clinching the title with four races remaining -- earlier than any driver in CART history. Reached the podium a record 15 times and established a CART record with 285 PPG Cup points. Ricardo Zonta -- Former karting champion who won both Brazil and Sudam F3 titles, followed by F3000 championship in 1997. Was a test driver with McLaren Mercedes last year and FIA GT champion with Mercedes. Signed with BAR and is a promising talent. Kicked off his F1 career with a respectable ninth at the Australian GP, 10 spots ahead of teammate Jacques Villeneuve. 1998 Finish
1. Mika Hakkinen (Finland), McLaren-Mercedes Fastest lap: Mika Hakkinen, 194.754 kph/ 120.552 mph (on lap 64) Past Champions
1998 Mika Hakkinen, McLaren-Mercedes NOTE: Race moved to Interlagos from Jacarepagua after 1989 race.
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