Thursday March 23rd, 2000

By Timothy Collings

A huge crowd will swamp the Interlagos circuit on Sunday dreaming of a Brazilian Grand Prix defeat for world champion Mika Hakkinen and his Ferrari rival Michael Schumacher.

Local fans want a Ferrari to win - but it is the one driven by Brazilian Rubens Barrichello who carries the hopes of a nation yearning for their first home-grown winner since the late Ayrton Senna won the race in 1993.

Barrichello's fine second place in Australia in his first race for the Italian team has brought the Brazilian dream into the realms of the possible.

Sunday's race will be the first time that Brazilian Formula One fans have been able to watch one of their compatriots at the wheel of a Ferrari, and last year Barrichello led the race at Interlagos for 23 laps in his Stewart.

But Barrichello has been quick to point out that, despite the Brazil-Ferrari combination, his friend Senna - who won three world titles in a McLaren - remains the idol of the Sao Paulo fans.

"Even if we're going to find out at Interlagos what it means for a local driver to race a Ferrari, Ayrton Senna was and will remain for always the only champion and idol, absolutely irreplaceable in the heart of Brazilians," he said.

"Senna at the wheel of a Ferrari - that would have been the ultimate. I'm just a Brazilian driver in a Ferrari and that's already a lot.

"At home I'm determined to put the car in the front row. I certainly have never had such a fast team mate as Schumacher, but I hope to be the fastest team mate he's ever had." Senna died in a crash at Imola in 1994.

Schumacher in Control

Schumacher led Barrichello home in a Ferrari one-two at Melbourne on March 12 and the German said later he felt he always had the race under control, a statement Hakkinen's McLaren team described as ludicrous.

The double world champion said he had been waiting for his chance to pounce and pass the two McLarens when they both retired after running at the front in formation.

Schumacher's words upset both McLaren team chief Ron Dennis, who has also reportedly criticised his Mercedes engine suppliers Ilmor for making a less powerful engine this year, and McLaren drivers Hakkinen and David Coulthard.

Finland's Hakkinen, winner in Brazil for the past two years, said: "Let's wait for Brazil and see what happens there before we start talking too much.

"Of course, Australia was disappointing, but it was only the first race. There is a long way to go yet."

Coulthard said: "We think the problem which caused us to retire has been fixed, so we will see this weekend which car is better. I think we have the quicker car but I do believe Ferrari have closed the gap. They just haven't closed it enough."

Coulthard, who will be 29 on the Monday following the race, also hopes the motivation felt by Barrichello to win could backfire on the Italian team.

Both Ferrari and McLaren will have to be wary of the challenge from Jordan, both of whose cars failed to finish in Australia, and possibly Jaguar, who also had two non-finishes in the opening race.

It will be a tough race for all as drivers prepare for a contest on which the cars have to travel anti-clockwise - which puts greater strain on drivers' necks used to travelling clockwise all the time - and a bumpy surface.

"This track is so uneven, it feels like you are riding a bull," said Jordan's German Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

"It's a big problem. And it is especially tricky in the rain because it gets very slippery and aqua-planing situations can develop very quickly anywhere."

Add to that likely high temperatures and high levels of humidity and the race will be a battle of attrition.