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Spa Franchorchamps is one of four "Grand-Slam" circuits in F1 history. Most drivers put this track into their favourites. and as Rex had said, this track has been a historycal place for Schumi.

The qualifying session was interupted by rains. That's why we got an unusual starting grid.
Here it is...

1. Jarno Trulli / Italy / Renault
2. Michael Schumacher / Germany / Ferrari
3. Fernando Alonso / Spain / Renault
4. David Coulthard / Great Britain / McLaren-Mercedes
5. Giancarlo Fisichella / Italy / Sauber-Petronas
6. Rubens Barrichello / Brazil / Ferrari
7. Mark Webber / Australia / Jaguar-Cosworth
8. Felipe Massa / Brazil / Sauber-Petronas
9. Olivier Panis / France / Toyota
10. Kimi Raikkonen / Finland / McLaren-Mercedes
11. Juan Montoya / Colombia / Williams-BMW
12. Jenson Button / Great Britain / BAR-Honda
13. Christian Klien / Austria / Jaguar-Cosworth
14. Antonio Pizzonia / Brazil / Williams-BMW
15. Takuma Sato / Japan / BAR-Honda
16. Nick Heidfeld / Germany / Jordan-Ford
17. Gianmaria Bruni / Italy / Minardi-Cosworth
18. Zsolt Baumgartner / Hungary / Minardi-Cosworth
19. Giorgio Pantano / Italy / Jordan-Ford
20. Ricardo Zonta / Brazil / Toyota

1. Kimi Raikkonen / Finland / McLaren-Mercedes
2. Michael Schumacher / Germany / Ferrari
3. Rubens Barrichello / Brazil / Ferrari
4. Felipe Massa / Brazil / Sauber-Petronas
5. Giancarlo Fisichella / Italy / Sauber-Petronas
6. Christian Klien / Austria / Jaguar-Cosworth
7. David Coulthard / Great Britain / McLaren-Mercedes
8. Olivier Panis / France / Toyota

9. Jarno Trulli / Italy / Renault
10. Ricardo Zonta / Brazil / Toyota
11. Nick Heidfeld / Italy / Jordan-Ford

DNF Juan Pablo Montoya / Colombia / Williams-BMW
DNF Antonio Pizzonia / Brazil / Williams-BMW
DNF Jenson Button / Great Britain / BAR-Honda
DNF Zsolt Baumgartner / Hungary / Minardi-Cosworth
DNF Fernando Alonso / Spain / Renault
DNF Mark Webber / Australia / Jaguar-Cosworth
DNF Takuma Sato / Japan / BAR-Honda
DNF Gianmaria Bruni / Italy / Minardi-Cosworth
DNF Giorgio Pantano / Italy / Jordan-Ford

Wow.. YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!!
Kimi beaten Schumi.. He ruined Schumi and Ferrari's party.

anyway congrats to both Kimi and Schumi. Kimi won the race from 10th on the grid, he really did a superb race. And Schumi secured his 7th World Champion Title!!!
What a race tho.. Safety Car was deployed 3 times after several accidents. Mostly those accidents caused by tire failure (DC, Button, JPM).
and quite surprising, We didn't hear Italian's national anthem for the 1st time this season.

I think we're back to 1997 when Hakkinen won The Japanese GP while Jacques Villeneuve secured his World Champion Title. It means Raikkonen will win world champion title for the next two successive years.

....welllllll.....what should I add from myself...nothing special cuz it is nothing to say about this season except Forza Schumi... 7th WCh title is not enough. Go on, make us happy once more

Originally Posted by argo

Wow.. YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! YES!!!
Kimi beaten Schumi.. He ruined Schumi and Ferrari's party.


I think we're back to 1997 when Hakkinen won The Japanese GP while Jacques Villeneuve secured his World Champion Title. It means Raikkonen will win world champion title for the next two successive years.

i'm afraid it didn't really ruin our party, argo, i honestly couldn't have cared less where he finished as long as it was 2 pts clear of rubino

anyway,excuse me while i go all childish for a second: we won we won we won we won!!whoo-hoo

anyway, i look forward to next year where hopefully there will be a proper challenge from mclaren, and hopefully renault and bmw. i also would like to see the progress of bar, will they do a jordan? rember they were 3rd best team in 99 and look where they are now! forza schumacher forza ferrari

5 driver titles in a row
6 constructors title in a row
both records

Congrats to Michael and Ferrari

But what are we going to do for the rest of the season?

Originally Posted by Henrik

Congrats to Michael and Ferrari

But what are we going to do for the rest of the season?

don't be too confused, Henrik.. Serie A is about to begin. soon U'll forget F1 championships, at least for the rest of this season.


P.S.
Lorenzo, may I get some drinks, pls.... Italian team, German+Brazilian drivers and French wine.

Congrats for Kimi, but should've become homework for McLaren for fixing their unreability and inconsistency though at following rounds. Schumi extends the records and way still move on as he looks after to hoping to win at Monza. Victory laps at Monza will be special way as it comes essentially to 'attest' his 7th world wonder in front of Scuderia fans.

Congrats Scuderia, Congrats Schumi, Congrats Rubens!!

Toast for everything!

This weekend we're gonna witness another interesting race from another "Grand Slam" circuit, MONZA.
Length: 5.793 km
Laps: 53 (306.720 kms)
2003 Results
Pole: M. Schumacher - 1'20''963
Best lap: M. Schumacher - 1'21''832
Podium:
1 M. Schumacher
2 Montoya
3 Barrichello

Monza is a fast track with some chicanes and parabolic corner, but most sections are quite narrow..

anyway, here's the starting grid:

1. Rubens Barrichello / Brazil / Ferrari / 1min 20.089secs
2. Juan Pablo Montoya / Colombia / Williams-BMW / +0.531secs
3. Michael Schumacher / Germany / Ferrari / +0.548secs
4. Fernando Alonso / Spain / Renault / +0.556secs
5. Takuma Sato / Japan / BAR-Honda / +0.626secs
6. Jenson Button / Great Britain / BAR-Honda / +0.697secs
7. Kimi Raikkonen / Finland / McLaren-Mercedes / +0.788secs
8. Antonio Pizzonia / Brazil / Williams-BMW / +0.799secs
9. Jarno Trulli / Italy / Renault / +0.938secs
10. David Coulthard / Great Britain / McLaren-Mercedes / +0.960secs
11. Ricardo Zonta / Brazil / Toyota / +1.431secs
12. Mark Webber / Australia / Jaguar-Cosworth / +1.513secs
13. Olivier Panis / France / Toyota / +1.752secs
14. Christian Klien / Austria / Jaguar-Cosworth / +1.900secs
15. Giancarlo Fisichella / Italy / Sauber-Petronas / +2.150secs
16. Felipe Massa / Brazil / Sauber-Petronas / +2.198secs
17. Giorgio Pantano / Italy / Jordan-Ford / +3.150secs
18. Gianmaria Bruni / Italy / Minardi-Cosworth / +4.851secs
19. Zsolt Baumgartner / Hungary / Minardi-Cosworth
20. Nick Heidfeld / Germany / Jordan-Ford

The track also notoriously tough on brakes and tyres. High stability, aerodynamics efficiency, decent balance and good turn in are crucial here. Plus you must notice on kerbs that unconsciously caused the problem. Generally it will take two stops.

If Scuderia wins, the party goes on.

You're right, rex... fast track such as Monza demands a supreme performance from brakes and tires. Last race in Spa showed us how terrible Michelin was.. fortunately Kimi survived.. u know, usually he is the first to be unlucky.

The 1st chicane (after start/finish line) would be very crucial, especially in the early laps when the cars are still close one to another. Drivers could do overtaking there but the curbs may give some trouble to the tires.

Generally I'm expecting some "hi-speed" overtakings, parabolic corners before the start/finish line and long section in intermediate 2 would be the place.

According to the weather forecast, It's gonna be raining today in Monza.
I hope not.

What a start there??!!!
Schumi was spinning in the chicane and let ALL drivers went through..
Seems like Monza track is quite slippery.

end of lap 2
Barrichello
Alonso
Montoya
Button
Raikkonen
Massa

DAMN!!!
Raikkonen yet again has retired due to engine failure..
Why he always be the 1st to be unlucky????

meanwhile Button leads the race, behind him is Alonso, then Montoya, Barrichello, Sato, and Coulthard.
halfway to go!

Seems like the party is NOT gonna happen here. Sorry to all Scuderia fans...

27 laps to go (of 53)
DC did his 1st pitstop. maybe It will be his only stop. He started from pitlane.

Interesting battle in front there...
Button
Alonso
Montoya
Barrichello

1. Rubens Barrichello / Brazil / Ferrari - 53 laps 1hr 15min 18.448secs
2. Michael Schumacher / Germany / Ferrari +01.300secs
3. Jenson Button / Great Britain / BAR-Honda +10.100secs
4. Takuma Sato / Japan / BAR-Honda +15.300secs
5. Juan Pablo Montoya / Colombia / Williams-BMW +32.300secs
6. David Coulthard / Great Britain / McLaren-Mercedes +33.400secs
7. Antonio Pizzonia / Brazil / Williams-BMW +33.700secs
8. Giancarlo Fisichella / Italy / Sauber-Petronas +35.400secs

9. Mark Webber / Australia / Jaguar-Cosworth +56.700secs
10. Jarno Trulli / Italy / Renault +66.300secs
11. Ricardo Zonta / Brazil / Toyota +81.900secs)
12. Felipe Massa / Brazil / Sauber-Petronas +1 lap
13. Christian Klien / Austria / Jaguar-Cosworth +1 lap
14. Nick Heidfeld / Germany / Jordan-Ford +1 lap
15. Zsolt Baumgartner / Hungary / Minardi-Cosworth +3 laps

Rtd Fernando Alonso / Spain / Renault 40 laps completed
Rtd Giorgio Pantano / Italy / Jordan-Ford 33 laps completed
Rtd Gianmaria Bruni / Italy / Minardi-Cosworth 29 laps completed
Rtd Kimi Raikkonen / Finland / McLaren-Mercedes 13 laps completed
Rtd Olivier Panis / France / Toyota 0 laps completed

Well.. the best team win. Congrats to all Scuderia fans.
Have a nice party...

Absolutely stunning preformance by Ferrari. Pity that Nando had to finish his race like that...
I sometimes wonder if it would be better to let Ferrari start the race when others are 1 min. already driving....