Renault, Three in a Row
Ferrari is Back
San Marino Grand Prix

By Erik Nielsen
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media

Wow, we actually had a race this weekend. I forgot that I was watching F1 and thought for a minute that it was a 15 lap drag race. With a gap between first and second of only 0.2 seconds, it was a nail biter.

Fernando Alonso led the race once pole sitter Kimi Räikkönen's McLaren Mercedes did it's impersonation of a road-going Mercedes-Benz and died only nine laps into the race. The fans thought that the Spaniard would cruise to victory, but come the half way point, the tifosi started to go mad when they realized that Michael Schumacher was good for the fight. It didn't look like an easy race for the repeat world champion after starting the race in thirteenth due to a small mistake in the second qualifying session. But it was classic Schumacher taking advantage in the pits and running the car as hard as possible on the track.

The Scuderia has been struggling at the beginning of the season with reliability and lack of speed issues, but this weekend, it looks like they've closed the gap. All signs are looking good for everyone with a closet full of red clothes.

Alonso had to fight for the win, but the two competitors looked like they had a great time trying. For once, I missed my Sunday afternoon nap. Not only did I miss my nap, I had to deal with Flabio again. If Renault keeps winning, Bernie is going to have to get the cameras equipped with fish eye lenses to capture all of him. The good thing about it is that he is hope for all of the nerds that cashed out their Microsoft stock that money can buy you good looking eye candy...

Jenson Button showed that the BAR-Honda team was not to be written off by finishing third. But politics have gotten involved with accusations of an illegal fuel tank and an underweight car. As we go to press, we're still not sure how this is going to play out. Sato-san would finish the race in fifth, proving that the Japanese engineers really have crunched their numbers.

Speaking of Japanese engineers, the Toyotas finished the race in 7th and 8th, still in the points, but not on top of the podium. Looks like the “flash in the pan” theory on their performance in the first couple of races is able to hold more water.

The other two points paying positions went to Wurz who was filling in for an injured Juan-Pablo and, get ready for this, Jacques Villeneuve. See the flash in the pan comment above.

As for the rest of the field, no one really cared. In fact, for the last 15 laps, even the TV coverage didn’t show anyone behind Schumacher. Toyota has lost their edge, neither Minardi finished (so two less chicanes during the race), and the Jordans were a lap and two behind so I still don’t have to learn how to spell any new names. Barichello played his classic role of being a lightning rod for all of the bad luck when his electronics crapped out, proving once again that Ferraris really are made in Italy and not in God's workshop. Did I miss anyone worth mentioning? Nope? Then we’ll keep this week’s article short.

With the racing back in Europe, we'll be able to see quick development of the cars again, rather than waiting for new bits to be flown half way around the world when the engineers come up with a better solution. Hopefully, this will mean closer racing, which is what the fans want after all.

The circus will continue in two weeks in Spain. Stay tuned, it’s starting to get good...