In racing news, today marked the final race of the record-long 19 race season.  The stage was set in Shanghai for the final battle of the year.  The prize?  The Constructor's World Championship.

For race fans, the scene was a familiar one. From the onset, a battle between Renault's Fernando Alonso and McLaren Mercedes' Kimi Raikkonen ensued.  Raikkonen trailed Alonso as well as Renault's other driver, Giancarlo Fisichella, for much of the race.  After an accident and a round of pit stops, Raikkonen set the fastest lap time of the day on Lap 56; but in the end, Kimi came up just short, finishing in second place behind Renault's Fernando Alonso.

As you all know, Kimi's our boy, and we can't say enough good things about him.  There were rumors Kimi might move to Ferrari next season, but we knew better.  While I'm on the subject, I'll tell you what is going to happen next season - Kimi's coming back for McLaren Mercedes, he's going to take the championship, and Mercedes is going to take the constructor's championship.  You heard it here first ladies and gentlemen.

You can check out photos of the race as well as the full press release and team interviews below.









OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


F1 Shanghai: Kimi Räikkönen Second

Shanghai, Oct 16, 2005

The start: Kimi started third on the grid and held this position at the end of the opening lap behind Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault). Juan Pablo, who had qualified fifth, overtook Jenson Button (BAR-Honda) to complete the lap in fourth place.

The race: On lap 18 Juan Pablo hit a loose piece of drain cover on turn 10. This caused him to come into the pits to change his right front wheel which was damaged in the impact. The loose drain cover caused the race to be neutralised when the safety car was deployed while repairs were carried out to the edge of the circuit. Kimi made his first refuelling stop in 10sec at the end of lap 19. He rejoined in third place. Juan Pablo, who had changed his damaged tyre on lap 18, came in to refuel in 11.2sec on lap 19. The rules did not permit him to refuel and change the damaged tyre on the same lap. At the end of lap 24 Montoya retired with an engine failure, the lap before the race restarted with Kimi running behind Alonso and Fisichella. On lap 29 an accident to Narain Karthikeyan's Jordan prompted a second safety car period and on lap 31 eleven cars pitted, including Kimi who was stationary for 5.0sec before resuming ahead of Fisichella in fifth place. He moved back to second after pit stops for Ralf Schumacher, Felipe Massa and Christian Klien allowed him to regain the position on lap 48, now 13.1sec behind Alonso. On the 56th and final lap he set the fastest lap of the race in 1m 33.242s to finish second behind Alonso.

Comments

Kimi Räikkönen: “Today was not our day and finishing second was the best we could do but obviously it was not enough to take the title. The car was not quick enough at the start of the race and when it really came on towards the end it was too late. The lap before Juan Pablo hit the cover I saw it was at a strange angle and just managed to avoid it the following lap. The whole incident brought out the Safety Car which meant that we were not really able to use our strategic advantage. Congratulations to Renault but next year we try again and I can’t wait.”

Juan Pablo Montoya: "The car was working well, but then I came into the corner, went on the kerb and hit the loose manhole cover which brought out the Safety Car. However the damage had been done, and eventually I was forced to crawl back into the pits with an engine failure. Not the way I would have liked to end the season but things happen.”

Ron Dennis, Team Principal: “Not the result we would have preferred, but that is motor racing. I think everything seemed to work against us today, and the Safety Car period meant that we were unable to take full advantage of our strategy. It’s frustrating not to achieve the result we want at the end of a season where we have finished on the podium 18 times and claimed 10 victories. Both drivers have done a good job this season as has the team and we will work hard to ensure that the momentum continues next season.”

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: “We can look back on a good season, and I want to thank everybody in the team for all their efforts. Today we were unable to see how our strategy would have unfolded in comparison to the opposition because the Safety Car was deployed before the first round of pit stops. Kimi made the best out of the situation with his second place. Unfortunately Juan Pablo hit a loose drain cover and immediately after that he suffered an engine failure – the cause of which is still being investigated. Congratulations to Renault for winning the Constructors’ title at the end of a great and closely fought season – we are looking forward to 2006.”

Copyright © 2005, DaimlerChrysler AG