The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Motor : Twisty track ahead of Fernando Alonso

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Friday, Jul 29, 2005

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Sport - Racing : Motor

Twisty track ahead of Fernando Alonso

"I think the Hungaroring is a little bit more special for me, and I just really enjoy the city, the paddock and the atmosphere as well": Alonso

BUDAPEST: The Formula One paths of Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher have gone in different directions over the past two years at the Hungarian Grand Prix where this weekend's race could go a long way in deciding this year's title.

In 2003 Alonso became the youngest driver to win a Formula One race when he won on the twisting Hungaroring track. He was barely 22 years old.

The Spaniard failed to win another race until this season, but has made up for lost time by winning six of the 12 races so far this season.

Alonso turns 24 on Friday and a victory here will move him closer to becoming the youngest to take a Formula One season title.

"After taking my first win there, I think the Hungaroring is a little bit more special for me, and I just really enjoy this weekend, the city, the paddock and the atmosphere as well," Alonso said. "I am really looking forward to it."

Should the Renault driver claim the title, he will take over from Schumacher, who has won seven championships and five with for Ferrari in the past five years.

Schumacher won a record 12th race of the season here in 2004, helping Ferrari clinch the team title in Hungary before taking the driver's title in the next race.

The German won only one more race in 2004 in five attempts. Then this year, instead of carrying one loss coming into Hungary he has just one victory, a tainted one earned at the United States Grand Prix where Alonso and the rest of the drivers using Michelin tyres did not compete over safety concerns.

Alonso and three other drivers — Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya of McLaren and Renault teammate Giancarlo Fisichella — have accounted for the rest of the victories this year.

Change of attitude

Schumacher came out of the German race with his title hopes all but mathematically gone. It would take a complete reversal of racing results to put him back in contention. However he came out of Germany with a different attitude.

"I don't think I can count myself in this battle any more," Schumacher said after the race where he was fifth, even being overtaken by Fisichella in the final two laps.

Until then, he kept insisting there was a chance, although Alonso moved further and further ahead.

Raikkonen has three victories and Montoya and Fisichella have one each.

Raikkonen could have possibly won more if he had not had some incredible misfortune with his car. In three races — the San Marino GP in April, the European GP in June and the German GP last week — he was leading comfortably when his car broke down. He was even leading the European GP entering the last lap.

Two other times he had engine failure before qualifying. The resulting engine change penalised him 10 spots on the starting grid. Both times he threaded his way through the pack and wound up second and third.

So instead of trailing Alonso 87-51 with seven races to go, he could easily be in contention.

He has an additional handicap in Saturday's qualifying because he dropped out of the German race.

"Unfortunately I will be going out first so will be affected by the dusty track, but the car is quick and I will push hard," Raikkonen said.

"I don't think I can count myself in this battle any more," Schumacher said after the race where he was fifth, even being overtaken by Fisichella in the final two laps.

Schumacher has 47 points and now has to be wary of Montoya creeping up with 34 points. The Colombian finished second at the German GP despite starting last when he made an error in qualifying and won in Britain three weeks ago.

However Montoya is not looking forward to the race as much as other races.

"The Hungaroring is not one of my favourite tracks, but it has got better since the changes were made a couple of years ago," Montoya said.

His chances to overtake on the slow track are limited. In Germany he passed eight cars on the first lap.

Here it's different.

"We use a high down force, but need to make sure to set up the car up so that it is fast on the main straight, as the first corner is the only place to overtake if you get a good run down into it," Montoya said.

Jenson Button of BAR is also starting to make his move the early portion of his season was marred by his team's suspension for running an underweight car at the San Marino GP. He gained his first podium of the season at the German GP — after 10 last year, and even started on the front row with Alonso at the British GP.

This weekend's race promises a variety of things. A heat wave have pushed temperatures more than 35 C (95 F) making practice and qualifying on Friday and Saturday very hot.

"There are lots of corners and gear changes like Monte Carlo, and in the heat it means it is quite tough physically," Raikkonen said.

However things could change by Sunday and cooling weather is predicted which could affect team strategy. — AP

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