25 September: Brazilian Grand Prix - Race Report - McLaren Mercedes
Team McLaren Mercedes claimed a one-two finish in today's Brazilian Grand Prix and took the lead in the 2005 Constructors' World
Championship. This was the team's first one-two since the 2000 Austrian Grand Prix and McLaren's 40th one-two. Juan Pablo Montoya
drove a dominant race to win the Brazilian Grand Prix for the second year in a row. Kimi Raikkonen was a close second to claim
maximum points for the team. Both drivers were on two stop strategies with Juan Pablo coming in on laps 27 (8.2 seconds) and 54 (6.2
seconds) whilst Kimi came in on laps 30 (10 seconds) and 59 (5.8 seconds). Kimi also set the fastest lap of the race on lap 29 with
1:12.268. Fernando Alonso has now claimed the 2005 Drivers' World Championship and Kimi remains second with 94 points whilst Juan
Pablo has moved up to third with 60 points. Team McLaren Mercedes leads the Constructors Battle with 164 points.
JUAN PABLO
MONTOYA "That was a lot of fun. I had a really good fight with Kimi and it was definitely not easy keeping him behind.
He came especially close after the second pitstop but not close enough. I got past Fernando at the first corner when the Safety Car
came in and then managed to maintain the lead for the rest of the race, but it was tough. It's great to win in Brazil for the second
time in a row particularly as a lot of Colombian fans come here to support me. I'm so pleased for everybody in the team who have
worked so hard that we finally got the one-two which has been so close a number of times this year. I think we definitely deserve
the Constructors' Championship and I can't wait for the last two races. Also well done to Fernando."
KIMI RAIKKONEN "Congratulations
to Fernando, but he better be prepared for me and the team to fight him hard for the rest of the season and next year. Today's race
was quite difficult and my car was not easy to drive. I carried a bit more fuel than Juan Pablo, but I still was not able to get
past him in the pitstops, and he drove a good race. Of course I'm disappointed that my fight for the Drivers' World Championship is
over, but we sort of knew it was going to happen. I will now focus on winning the Constructors' title for the team and go flat out
for the last two races."
RON DENNIS "A phenomenal and well disciplined race by both Juan Pablo and Kimi.
Our strategy meant that our actual qualifying performance was masked as we were running with a lot of fuel. We are delighted to be
in the lead of the Constructors' World Championship but are disappointed not to be able to challenge for the Drivers' during the
last two races. However, today's performance makes us confident that we are in a position to end the season on a high. Apologies to
Kimi and Juan Pablo for the missed opportunities this season. Congratulations to Fernando and I'm sure he will be worthy World
Champion. Now he has to raise his game as he faces a significant challenge to beat us in the remaining races."
NORBERT
HAUG "A perfect double win and a great achievement by both our drivers and the entire team which put us in the lead of
the Constructors' World Championship. Our strategy worked well and gave us the opportunity to use our strong technical package to
the maximum. Congratulations to Fernando and Renault for winning the Drivers' World Championship he and Renault deserve it."
