I think it is ironic that, just last week, Michael Schumacher admitted in an interview that he is willing to make his passes in the pits. He is, after all, the consummate expert at getting in and out of the pits faster than anyone (I suppose Hakkinen is even faster, but then he is so fast he has to do it a second time).

Early on at Imola, it looked like Coulthard was going to be Schumacher's first "pit pass" victim. The problem was that Damon Hill had a little trick up his sleeve. Hill and the Williams team won by using the same savvy pit tactics that won Schumacher quite a few races, and arguably the championship, last year. Hill did have a bad start, but it was his relatively slow pace early on that had Bob Varsha and Derek Bell scratching their heads. Once he took over the lead and stayed there, it was clear what he and his team had accomplished.

On a strategy level, it was a real coup de'etat. But on a pure racing level, we know who really won the race and that was Schumacher.

Michael crossing the finish line with a locked up front brake showed his super human ability to push his Ferrari to the absolute limit. But then there is no such thing as a "Driver of the Year" award. World Championship honors are given to the driver who does everything he can to score the most points and that includes pit strategy. The problem is that it is becoming increasingly evident that pit stops and refueling are widening the gap between who the best driver is and who becomes the World Champion (Of course the all conquering Williams Renault car will have a little to do with this).

World Championships being won in the pits is eventually going to tarnish the glory of Formula One, if it hasn't already.

Eric Gustafson
egustafson@wvs.com
U.S.A

Did anyone notice the view from the car cameras on the Ferrari and Williams cars? The picture looked more like an arcade game. There was no bounce when the car went over the curbing and the nose of the car looked like it had been superimposed over a picture of the track. Is this a result of digital technology or over isolating the camera from movement. I didn't really like the "video game" effect.

Any comments or explanation?

Nick Hamilton
nhamilton@ips.ca
Canada

The Autodromo Enzo and Dino Ferrari has been the scene of some dramatic action in the past. This year this was also the case, when Jos Verstappen ran over one of his mechanics and destroyed the refueling equipment in the process. The Mechanic hasn't been badly hurt fortunately, but Jos Verstappen and Ricardo Rosset had to retire. Ricardo actually came in for his refueling stop and he was told that the fuel he needed was lying all over the place. What an experience that must have been.

A great race it was last Sunday, with lots of action right from the grid. The marvelous start of David Coulthard who has the McLaren back on compeditive terms now. Michael Schumacher messing up his start by allowing Damon Hill and Coulthard past him. It is just too bad that the Mercedes engine still isn't on par with the Ferrari or the Renault. Ron Dennis was correct when he said they had made a lot of progress. Now they've got more tests planned for the coming week and if the development continues to increase at this tempo, they will be winning before the season is over.

Somebody finally showed some wisdom during this race. Pedro Paulo Diniz was for once given a stop and go penalty for blocking.

Well, the waiting now is for the results of the coming tests and then it is on to Monaco, the most beautiful in the line up of races. I hope to see you here after the Monaco Grand Prix on the 19th of this month.

Arne Hulstein
ghulst@mail.HZeeland.nl
The Netherlands

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