Elsewhere in Racing
Updates from the Rest of the Racing World

By Mark Alan Jones, Australia
Atlas F1 Magazine Writer

  CART

Da Matta Takes Fontana Finale

From the streets of Surfers Paradise to the banking of Fontana, Cristiano da Matta is in ominous form, taking the vastly different circuits in his stride. It was a most impressive end to the season for what has been a lean year for the Newman-Haas team. Max Papis was second by only thousandths, doing his hopes for a 2002 drive no harm with Alex Tagliani taking another late season podium. An incredible 19 drivers led the race at some point in arguably the race of the season, only an anti-climatic yellow flag finish to make the point debatable.

The race started well with Tagliani, da Matta and Bryan Herta fighting for the lead from the very outset. Max Papis, again showing the oval strengths of the Lola-Ford charged through the field to take the lead with Paul Tracy coming from even further back to slot into second. Da Matta soon had the lead with Memo Gidley stepping up to join the running near the front. Tracy took his turn at the front, dragging Gidley along. Helio Castroneves took his turn soon after with Tony Kanaan in close attendance. Cars were crossing the stripe three abreast. The pace was becoming frantic with barely a tenth of race distance covered.

Patrick Carpentier was first into the pits on lap 31, and dropped to the tail of the field. The yellows came out at this point, ending Carpentier's chances. It also ended Kenny Brack's. Brack spun in turn 1 and crashed into turn 2 scattering debris across the track. Practically the entire field pitted once the pit lane opened. It was to be a long yellow with several cars pitting again to top off.

Papis launched at the green on lap 45 but soon had Kanaan pass him into the lead. Papis argued the point though, and he and Gidley took their turns leading while Herta slowed and retired. Da Matta was up front too with the unfortunate Carpentier amongst the leaders looking for a way through to get his lost lap back. Carpentier got his lap back, but Papis would put him a lap down again ten laps later. By this time Tracy was out and Franchitti ended Team Kool Green's day with a smoky exit on the back straight bringing out the yellows. The entire field pitted again with Castroneves first back into the race.

The frantic passing continued, with Casey Mears taking his turn at the front in only his third race. By half distance, Mears, Papis, da Matta, Andretti and comeback king Carpentier were dicing for the lead. Drivers started to consider their third stops as green stops. Casey Mears was the first to pit and lose a lap. As the leaders started to pit Alex Barron came forward then Oriol Servia and Tora Takagi. Everyone was having a go before the season closed.

The dicing continued until Mauricio Gugelmin brought out the race's third yellow at about three quarter distance, after blowing an engine and liberally coating the startline with oil. To add to it Moreno was smoking now. With light rapidly fading and a couple of long yellow periods, CART officials reduce the race distance, which sees the teams head for the pits to set up a last dash for the line to take advantage of a brief yellow when Moreno's car lost a front wing part. Moreno led the restart very briefly before Bruno Junqueira took up the running.

On lap 188 Moreno's engine detonated. Another yellow flew on lap 196 for Adrian Fernandez's crash and officials shortened the race again. Everyone now had plenty of fuel aboard. A sprint to the flag ensued with da Matta leading with four laps to go when Scott Dixon thumped the wall in turn 3 leading to an anti-climactic final four laps under yellows with da Matta having taken the lead into the last yellow period by 0.007 seconds over Papis with cars spread across the stripe.

Results of FedEx CART World Series, FedEx CART Word Series, Round 21, Fontana, California, USA: 

Pos  Driver                Car
 1.  Cristiano da Matta    Lola-Toyota
 2.  Max Papis             Lola-Ford
 3.  Alex Tagliani         Reynard-Ford
 4.  Bruno Junqueira       Lola-Toyota
 5.  Tony Kanaan           Reynard-Honda
 6.  Gil de Ferran         Reynard-Honda
 7.  Michael Andretti      Reynard-Honda
 8.  Casey Mears           Reynard-Honda
 9.  Alex Barron           Lola-Ford
10.  Patrick Carpentier    Reynard-Ford

Brazil Triumphant

Cristiano da Matta drove an intelligent race, qualified well and always made sure he was near the pointy end of the field as the afternoon progressed, taking the lead from Roberto Moreno when the pole sitter struck gearbox problems. Da Matta's third CART victory wasn't the story of the day though. A fourth placed finish, importantly ahead of Kenny Brack, meant that Gil de Ferran had become only the fourth driver in CART's history to successfully retain his title.

When the race was green flagged it didn't last long. De Ferran beat poleman Robert Moreno into turn one but further back there was contact and Casey Mears was into the wall. Mears locked his rear brakes, clouting the wall as the race returned to yellows before a lap was completed. Several cars pitted immediately for a top-up, staggering the field. At the restart de Ferran led Moreno, Paul Tracy, da Matta and Dario Franchitti. Da Matta took third coming onto the back straight. The action was strung out - just behind the leaders Kenny Brack was looking for a way past Helio Castroneves, to keep his championship hopes alive while Helio was keeping a close eye on Patrick Carpentier.

The first of the pitstops started on lap 19 as Bruno Junqueira dived in with his Ganassi car. The following lap Franchitti was in, then Memo Gidley. Lap 22 and the leaders started to dive for fuel with de Ferran leading in Tracy and Papis. Moreno lasted another lap. For anyone who lasted to lap 24, Franchitti spun on the back straight bringing out yellows. Franchitti lost two laps waiting to be push started.

At the restart Moreno led from de Ferran, da Matta, Tracy and Alex Tagliani. The form of the pole car was starting to look ominous. Brack was still stuck behind Castroneves, keeping de Ferran's championship locked down. Castroneves wasn't blocking though, and had an off on lap 39 trying to get past Michael Andretti. Andretti and Brack then caught Tagliani after Tags had a costly half lose at Foster's.

Lap 46 and Moreno slowed dramatically coming up the back straight. The Brazilian was soon on the pace again, but the lead he'd built up was gone. A lap later and da Matta took the lead from the struggling Moreno. With the leaders pitting, Jimmy Vasser took up leadership on lap 48 ahead of Scott Dixon and Michel Jourdain. Dixon led his erstwhile home event when Vasser pitted on lap 50. The glorious moment for CART's Rookie of the Year lasted a lap before he pitted.

This left da Matta back at the front for the sprint to the finish. Andretti was now second ahead of Moreno, de Ferran, Tagliani, Tracy and Brack. Tagliani was in a fighting mood and took de Ferran, leaving Brack able to see his championship rival. Third to seventh was now running nose to tail. Moreno pitted again, and this time climbed from the car. A glorious run to victory ended early, but the pace was obviously there for the Brazilian veteran still without a 2002 drive.

With Tracy through de Ferran, Brack was now directly behind de Ferran. Brack had to pass the Brazilian or the title chase would be over. With seven laps to go Junqueira walled the Lola entering ANA Corner. Sixth placed Scott Dixon started slowing, grinding to a halt with a lap to go. A cruel twist of fate saw Paul Tracy slow on the last lap as his engine blew and caught fire leaving turn 11 at the top of the course, dropping him from fourth to fourteenth. Da Matta lead the field to the chequer ahead of Andretti, Tagliani, de Ferran, Brack and Vasser.

Results of FedEx CART World Series, Round 20, Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia: 

Pos  Driver                Car
 1.  Cristiano da Matta    Lola-Toyota
 2.  Michael Andretti      Reynard-Honda
 3.  Alex Tagliani         Reynard-Ford
 4.  Gil de Ferran         Reynard-Honda
 5.  Kenny Brack           Lola-Ford
 6.  Jimmy Vasser          Reynard-Toyota
 7.  Michel Jourdain Jr    Lola-Ford
 8.  Christian Fittipaldi  Lola-Toyota
 9.  Max Papis             Lola-Ford
10.  Memo Gidley           Lola-Toyota

Final standings: Gil de Ferran 199, Kenny Brack 163, Michael Andretti 147, Cristiano da Matta and Helio Castroneves 141, Max Papis 106, Dario Franchitti 105, Scott Dixon 98, Tony Kanaan 93, Patrick Carpentier 91 etc.


  Rally

Gronholm Retains Rally Australia

Last year Marcus Gronholm was gifted victory in Rally Australia after Tommi Makinen was disqualified. It secured his championship. This year though, the pressure of the Championship was on the shoulders of others. Gronholm drove fast and clean, particularly on Leg 2, on the unique ball bearing surface of Western Australia and was too good for the chasers, despite the valiant efforts of in particular Richard Burns, but also the Ford drivers, Sainz and McRae.

"I'm delighted," said Gronholm. "We came here with the target of winning and giving Peugeot a good chance in the manufacturers championship and to come away with 14 points for the team is a fantastic result."

Gronholm led home a stellar effort for Peugeot, far and away the best car for the conditions. Didier Auriol and Harri Rovanpera came home third and fourth. With Rovanpera down as the team's second Manufacturers' Cup point scorer and the make's best Drivers' Championship hope, there was speculation that Auriol might be asked to move over. That did not eventuate, and in the end made no difference, as Burns was secure in second, and Rovanpera needed a win or second placeto stay in Championship contention. Gilles Panizzi in the fourth Pug ran a steady rally in 8th for almost the whole event. The asphalt specialist lost a spot to a charging Carlos Sainz on the last day.

Subaru also had much to be happy about. Richard Burns tried hard all rally but was unable to match the pace of Gronholm. He was still faster than anyone else and second was a result that his championship hopes liked a lot. Petter Solberg was a revelation, mixing it up with Tommi Makinen most of the rally, showing a pace equal to drivers much more experienced than he. A puncture cost Solberg dearly and seventh became the result. 'Possum' Bourne was well up into the top ten on day one until delayed. The Subaru's engine, itself an emergency replacement installed on the morning of the first day cried enough on Stage 10. Toshihiro Arai crashed out early in the rally.

Ford had a strange rally. Colin McRae finished fifth on the rally, but perhaps should have been higher. McRae was judged by officials to have been late to the Friday evening starting position selection meeting. Unique to the Australian event, the 'A' seeded drivers selected what position they ran on the road based on running order from the previous day. Due to his 'late' arrival, McRae was allotted the dangerous and slow road sweeper role as first on the road. While later on day 2 Ford were able to position Francois Delecour first on the road, it still badly affected McRae's times. McRae was able to climb back to fifth however by charging in the stages on Leg 3.

The road sweeper role dumped on Ford extracted one more penalty when Delecour crashed out of the rally. Daniel Grataloup became the second co-driver in as many rallies winched out by helicopter from injuries sustained in an accident, after breaking several ribs, collarbone and shoulder blade, and suffering a collapsed lung. The injuries though are relatively minor and Grataloup is expected to recover quickly. Carlos Sainz was delayed in Stage 6 on the first day after an accident removed the right rear wheel of the car. After a small fire in the transport stage, Sainz limped into service. Once repaired the Spaniard flew but was only able to climb to eighth by rally's end.

Mitsubishi ran the new Lancer WRC on gravel for the first time. Tommi Makinen and Freddy Loix ran steadily and reliably throughout the rally, but the pace was not there to fight with the leaders. Makinen took the final point in sixth place after a rally long battle with Solberg. Loix had over two minutes of time penalties and a battery problem saw them late onto a stage, leaving the Belgian eleventh. The timing of the introduction of the Lancer WRC has become problematic for Makinen's chances of regaining the title, but at least the new car has a gravel rally under its belt prior to RAC.

Hyundai found itself in road sweeper role for much of the rally with Kenneth Eriksson and Alister McRae having to sweep the ball bearing gravel for the later crews. Alister McRae had a clear run throughout the rally, but was unable to climb beyond tenth. Kenneth Eriksson came home twelfth after engine problems slowed Eriksson during Leg 3. The drivers had no complaints about the system which put them at the front of the field other than they wished it wasn't them.

Hamed Al Wahaibi (Subaru Impreza) took the top privateer spot in 13th, but 14th on the road was enough for Henrik Lundgaard to claim the Teams' Cup for top privateer, perhaps providing a last trophy for the Toyota Corolla as the car slips down the order without manufacturer support. In Group N, local Mitsubishi Lancer steerer Ed Ordynski again defeated the overseas visitors with new Group N World Champion Gabriel Pozzo (Mitsubishi Lancer) second.

With Gronholm's reign as champion almost over, the question is now who will replace him. Colin McRae has a one point lead over Tommi Makinen, who in turn has a one point lead over Richard Burns. Nine points off the lead, Carlos Sainz has a mathematical chance, but with McRae leading, Ford will insist on a support role for the Spaniard unless McRae fails to finish. So there is roughly a two in three chance the World Championship will leave Scandinavia (and Finland) for the first time since 1995. With both McRae and Burns on home soil, the odds lay heavily on a victory for Scotland.

Result of World Rally Championship, Round 13, Rally Australia: 

Pos  Driver                Car
 1.  Marcus Gronholm       Peugeot 206
 2.  Richard Burns         Subaru Impreza
 3.  Didier Auriol         Peugeot 206
 4.  Harri Rovanpera       Peugeot 206
 5.  Colin McRae           Ford Focus
 6.  Tommi Makinen         Mitsubishi Lancer
 7.  Petter Solberg        Subaru Impreza
 8.  Carlos Sainz          Ford Focus
 9.  Gilles Panizzi        Peugeot 206
10.  Alister McRae         Hyundai Accent

Standings: Colin McRae 42, Tommi Makinen 41, Richard Burns 40, Carlos Sainz 33, Harri Rovanpera 30, Marcus Gronholm 26, Didier Auriol 23, Gilles Panizzi 22, Francois Delecour 15, Petter Solberg 11 etc.

Manufacturers Standings: Peugeot 90, Ford 86, Mitsubishi 69, Subaru 62, Skoda 15, Hyundai 13


  MotoGP

Rossi Brings An End to the 500 Era

The curtain came down on the 500cc era of the Motorcycle World Championship. It was fitting that Honda, the dominant manufacturer of the last 20 years should take the last win, and who better to deliver than Valentino Rossi. The man who has won world championship in 125, 250 AND 500cc divisions took the win by mere fractions after being beaten to the line by Carlos Checa in the second half of a rain interrupted Brazilian Grand Prix.

An action packed final round seemed inevitable in what has been an excellent season of racing for the two wheeled set. The tone was set when Olivier Jacque was flicked off his bike at turn 1, high siding when his rear tyre locked up as he changed down through the gears with no clutch. Worse was to come as teammate Shinya Nakano had no choice but to follow the Frenchman off the circuit. Nakano would recover and storm back through the field.

Kenny Roberts Jr, as is his want, launched very well to lead the field away with Tohru Ukawa taking up second after Jacque's fall. Roberts and Ukawa made a small initial gap while Rossi recovered from his customary poor start and was quickly past Norick Abe and Loris Capirossi, bridging the gap to the two leaders then blowing by them. Alex Barros in front of his home crowd came to the front with West Pons teammate Loris Capirossi, taking the Marlboro Yamahas of Carlos Checa and Max Biaggi with them. The group diced for positions before Ukawa, Roberts and Rossi held up their hands as rain got to the racetrack.

After the restart Ukawa led early, building a small gap before falling. Garry McCoy also led early but quickly faded. Rossi quickly gapped the field until those red Yamahas hauled him in. Checa took the lead from Rossi, but Rossi stayed in his wheeltracks for the rest of the race. As they crossed the line, with Checa leading Rossi over the line, there was confusion between them as the pair tried to figure out who had won. Rossi took the spoils as he was close enough to Checa that his lead in the first part of the race was greater than the amount he had 'lost' to Checa in the second part. Biaggi's third secured second in the championship having come under late season threat from the third Italian Capirossi.

The 125cc Championship went down to the wire. Youichi Ui (Derbi) did what he could, taking the win, but fifth was more than enough for Manuel Poggiali to take the World Championship for Gilera. Completing the podium were Simone Sanna (Aprilia) and Arnaud Vincent (Honda).

In the 250s Daijiro Katoh completed his domination of the class with another win aboard his Honda in what has been a record breaking season. Marco Melandri (Aprilia) was second ahead of Roberto Locatelli (Aprilia).

Results of World Motorcycle Championship, Round 16, Jacarepagua, Rio de Janiero, Brazil: 

Pos  Rider                     Motorcycle
 1.  Valentino Rossi           Honda NSR500
 2.  Carlos Checa              Yamaha YZR500
 3.  Max Biaggi                Yamaha YZR500
 4.  Alex Barros               Honda NSR500
 5.  Loris Capirossi           Honda NSR500
 6.  Norick Abe                Yamaha YZR500
 7.  Alex Criville             Honda NSR500
 8.  Jose Luis Cardoso         Yamaha YZR500
 9.  Shinya Nakano             Yamaha YZR500
10.  Garry McCoy               Yamaha YZR500

Final 500cc standings: Valentino Rossi 325, Max Biaggi 219, Loris Capirossi 210, Alex Barros 182, Shinya Nakano 155, Carlos Checa and Norick Abe 137, Alex Criville 120, Sete Gibernau 119, Tohru Ukawa 107 etc.

Final 250cc standings: Daijiro Katoh 322, Tetsuya Harada 273, Marco Melandri 194, Roberto Rolfo 177, Fonsi Nieto 167 etc.

Final 125cc standings: Manuel Poggiali 241, Youichi Ui 232, Toni Elias 217, Lucio Cecchinello 156, Masao Azuma 142 etc.


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