2004 BRAZILIAN GRAND PRIX PREVIEW The Brazilian Grand Prix, which takes place at Sao Paulo's 4.309km / 2.677 mile Interlagos circuit, is the final event of the 2004 FIA Formula One World Championship. KIMI RAIKKONEN "My memories of last year's Brazilian race are of course mixed having been so close to victory, and hopefully this time I will be able to take a good result to end the season with. I think that following Japan, everyone is looking forward to getting back to the normal schedule, although it was nice to have a day off! The key feature of the race is that we run in an anti-clockwise direction. This does of course place different physical pressures on us, as the forces as we corner are on the opposite muscles. We tend to run with a set-up compromise at Interlagos to try and be quick in the twisting infield and long, sweeping start-finish straight. This section of the track is uphill, making qualifying position even more important as the further down the grid you are the steeper the slope to start from, which is of course not ideal. After the race, I will be going on a delayed honeymoon with Jenni, before getting back to testing towards the end of November." DAVID COULTHARD "With two real overtaking opportunities, the Interlagos circuit usually sees exciting racing. The main one is the first corner, if you slipstream along the straight you can pass under braking into the left hander. The race itself tends to be physically quite tough, one of the main causes being the very bumpy surface. It has improved over the years but still causes major vibrations in the car, which can unsettle it and as a consequence your reflexes also need to be 100% for the whole race. Car set-up is also heavily influenced by this particular characteristic, as we need to ensure it rides well over the bumps and it has high levels of grip. The race is always great fun, because of the fanatic atmosphere the 'paulistas' create, I am looking forward to racing there and hope we can secure a positive result. There is no denying that Brazil will be a weekend of mixed emotions for me, as it has been a great nine seasons with the team. I believe I have the pace, desire and ability to be competitive, and as I have stated I am not ready to retire. I am continuing to try and get a drive next year, but if I don't then I'll try the following year." MARTIN WHITMARSH, CEO FORMULA ONE, TEAM McLAREN MERCEDES "The whole Team McLaren Mercedes team is working towards finishing the 2004 season on a high with a strong performance at the Brazilian Grand Prix, to provide some extra motivation as we move into the off-season. As last year's event demonstrated, Interlagos always provides for interesting racing. Hopefully the race will be dominated by the track action, rather than the weather as in Japan. Due to the surface characteristics of the track, which are bumpy and abrasive, set-up is even more crucial and the circuit is notoriously hard on tyres. Work away from the Grand Prix has been continuing apace at the McLaren Technology Centre and on the test track, both in terms of preparation for Brazil and maintaining our current impetus into the winter season, as we start to work more aggressively on our build-up to Melbourne in just over four months. Of course Brazil will also see David's last outing as a Team McLaren Mercedes racing driver. He has always been 100% committed and has done a great job for the team for the past nine years." NORBERT HAUG, VICE PRESIDENT, MERCEDES-BENZ MOTORSPORT "The Interlagos circuit has really special challenges. Because of the bumpy surface, several fast lefthanders and the slow and twisty infield it's a demanding task to find the optimum set-up here. Due to the high grip level the track is hard on the tyres. 56 per cent of a lap are run with full throttle which is below average. The race in Brazil will be David's last race for us. We thank him for his efforts during the nine years he has started for our team. The Brazilian Grand Prix is also our 150th race together ? no driver in Formula One history has ever driven more Grands Prix for one team." Lap of Interlagos with Kimi Raikkonen Powering along the uphill start-finish straight at Interlagos, you reach some 184mph / 296kph in seventh gear, before braking hard as the track gradient drops sharply on the entrance to the Descida do Sol. Your speed drops to 55mph / 88kph in second gear as you negotiate the tight left, which provides the best opportunity for overtaking. A flowing right-left sequence follows immediately, you push slightly on the throttle to increase your speed slightly through the right of the Senna 'S', which is taken at 92mph / 148kph in third gear, as is where the pit exit feeds back onto the track. The left of Curva do Sol that follows, is a long bend, which is usually quite bumpy, but is taken flat out, at 125mph / 201kph. It is important to increase your speed and take a good line through the corner as it swings you onto the long Reta Oposta straight. Pushing hard on the throttle, you reach 180mph / 290kph in seventh gear, braking hard for the double apex of Descida do Lago, which is negotiated at 89mph / 143kph in third gear. The entrance to the first tight left provides another good overtaking opportunity. Exiting the second apex, which is very bumpy and should again be taken flat out to ensure you have speed on the exit, you blast along the short straight that leads to Ferra dura. You brake from 171mph / 275kph in fifth gear to 115mph / 185kph in fourth to negotiate the difficult and slippery right hander which is off camber in the exit. Another short burst of power leads to a slow, tight right hander, which is taken in first gear, and is immediately followed by the second gear 55mph / 88kph left hand of Pinheirinho. Exiting in third gear, your speed builds up to about 99mph / 160kph before braking hard for the Bico de Pato hairpin, the slowest point on the track, which is taken in first gear at 46mph / 74kph. The bumpy left hander of Mergulho follows, which can be taken flat out in qualifying at 125mph / 201kph in fourth, before braking hard for the important left hander of Juncão, which is taken in second gear at 50mph / 80kph. This leads you uphill through the long left hander of Subida do Boxes, which takes you back onto the long start-finish straight. (Embedded image moved to file: pic08723.jpg)
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