Formula 1 News - May 2005
Toyota

22 May: Monaco Grand Prix - Race Report - Toyota

Panasonic Toyota Racing's Ralf Schumacher was delighted after he went from the back of the field to take 6th place at an incident-strewn Monaco Grand Prix. Ralf passed a number of cars before taking advantage of a hectic day to take three points. Team-mate Jarno Trulli had an even more eventful afternoon, running as high as 2nd for a long period before dropping back after an audacious passing manoeuvre at the Loews hairpin. He eventually finished 10th. Ralf's points keep Toyota in the top three of the constructors' championship on 43 points.

PASS AT THE PORT
Ralf Schumacher had the most difficult job of all today after starting from the back. But he made up four places in the early laps before moving further up during the safety car period. He ended up fending off the two Ferraris on his way to three points for 6th place.

Ralf Schumacher (Car 17, Chassis TF105/03)
Race Classification: 6th Gap: +37.177s (from race winner)
Aggregate Qualifying Classification: 18th Agg. Time: No time Grid: 18th

"First of all thanks to the whole Panasonic Toyota Racing team for putting the car together after my accident yesterday. It was a great effort and the car went through the whole race so I'm really happy about that. It's a pity about what happened on Saturday because I could have ended up with even more points, but I had a very good day today. In the early laps I passed a few slower cars into Mirabeau, then I was held up in traffic. After the safety car period I began moving through the field. Then at the end I was in a long chain of cars behind Alonso who was going slowly. With the Ferraris behind me it was a bit difficult. Then Michael made rather a strong move on the line and we nearly crashed. Still, it's great to end up with three points."

LOEWS CHANGES EVERYTHING
Last year's Monaco Grand Prix winner Jarno Trulli ran as high as second during the safety car period. He then pulled off an outstanding manoeuvre to pass Giancarlo Fisichella at the Loews hairpin. But he pitted soon after, complaining of a handling problem. His eventual 10th place was hard earned and he remains in the world championship top three.

Jarno Trulli (Car 16, Chassis TF105/02)
Race Classification: 10th Gap: +1 lap
Aggregate Qualifying Classification: 5th Agg. Time: 2m32.590s (+2.267s) Grid: 5th

"I made a good start and I was doing a very good race at the beginning, keeping the pace. We were on a one-stop strategy so I was pushing 100 percent while taking care of the fuel. It wasn't easy but I was doing well. Unfortunately when I came out from my own pitstop I spent the second half of the race behind Fisichella who was struggling with his tyres and losing several seconds per lap. That meant I lost position on the two Williams as well. Then Giancarlo made a mistake into Mirabeau and I was able to overtake him into the Loews hairpin. But I hit the inside kerb which made my car feel unbalanced at the end. I came into the pits to check the problem and that moved me out of the points."

MIXED RACE
An exciting afternoon of racing around Monaco's twisty streets saw mixed fortunes for the two Toyota drivers. But Ralf Schumacher's three points are another useful addition to the team's haul for the year.

Tsutomu Tomita - Team Principal
"It was a very good race from Ralf and it was a very good, richly deserved result. After his crash yesterday, to drive a completely rebuilt car from last to 6th is a very good performance. It shows again that in Monaco anything can happen at any time. You just need to keep up there until the very end. By contrast, Jarno was very unlucky. Because we were on a one-stop strategy the safety car period didn't play into our hands and he ended up stuck behind another car. When he tried to pass him he went over the kerbs very heavily and then he reported a handling problem. We checked the car in the pit stop and didn't see anything which was why we sent him out again. It's a pity he missed out on points but both drivers performed very well and in terms of a spectacle this was one of the best races of the season."

2005 Monaco Grand Prix - Main Page
2005 Monaco Grand Prix - Team and Driver Race Reports Page

Sunday Qualifying

After what could have been the final Sunday morning qualifying session of the year, Panasonic Toyota Racing's Jarno Trulli moved up two places to 5th on the grid for this afternoon's Monaco Grand Prix. Ralf Schumacher put in just one installation lap in the new car which the team built up after his accident yesterday afternoon. Both drivers will now do their best to score points in this afternoon's exhausting race.

TUNNEL MISSION
Jarno Trulli pushed to the limit around Monaco this morning to move up two places to 5th on the grid. The result keeps up Jarno's record of qualifying in the top five at every race this year.

Jarno Trulli (Car 16, Chassis TF105/02)
Second Qualifying Classification: 5th Lap Time: 1m17.401s (+1.120s) Laps: 3 Aggregate Qualifying Classification: 5th Agg. Time: 2m32.590s (+2.267s)
Grid: 5th

"I am very happy with the lap, which was a big improvement on yesterday. I was really on the limit at several parts of the circuit so I'm glad to have held the lap together until the end. It means I go up two positions to 5th on the grid. Obviously grid position is very important here so a place in the top five is a good place to start. Then it's important to get a good rhythm in the race and not make any mistakes. Anything can happen in Monaco so we'll have to play a waiting game and see what transpires."

THE ONLY WAY IS UP
Ralf Schumacher will line up at the back of the grid for today's Monaco Grand Prix following his accident yesterday. Now Ralf will give everything around the street circuit this afternoon as he bids to move up through the field.

Ralf Schumacher (Car 17, Chassis TF105/03)
Second Qualifying Classification: 17th Lap Time: No time Laps: 1
Aggregate Qualifying Classification: 18th Agg. Time: No time
Grid: 18th

"This morning we just put in an installation lap on the new car. Obviously it's not ideal to go into a race after so little running but I've been in the business long enough that it should not be a problem. Of course Monaco is the wrong race to start at the back but anything can happen here over the course of 78 hard laps. The important thing here is to finish the race without going off. That's never easy but if you can manage it you never know where you might end up."

THE FULL MONTE
After a positive morning session, Panasonic Toyota Racing goes into this afternoon's Monaco Grand Prix looking to get both cars to the finish of this gruelling event.

Dieter Gass - Chief Race Engineer
"Jarno did a very good lap. He picked up the positions which we were targeting, and did as much as we thought it was realistic to hope for. He looks well set for the race so we have to be happy with the qualifying result. With Ralf, because we knew we were starting last anyway we just did a lap to make sure the car was okay. It's obviously going to be difficult for him this afternoon but his race performances this year show he will give everything today to finish as high as possible. We have also seen many races here where a lot of cars have retired. It's a matter of staying out of trouble, bringing the cars home and picking up as much as we can."

2005 Monaco Grand Prix - Main Page

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