BierdopjeV3 Alpha nu beschikbaar. Wil je helpen? Kijk dan hier

Formula 1 - Melbourne (Australia)

Seizoen: 2006 - Aflevering: 3 / 139 - Eerst uitgezonden: 02 april 2006 - Episode ID: 397781

LXXI Foster's Australian Grand Prix Date: April 2 2006 Location: Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit,Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia Course: Parkland street circuit, 5.30 km (3.33 mi) Distance: 57 laps, 302.271 km (187.822 mi) Weather: Fine Attendance: 103,000 Pole position: Jenson Button Honda 1:25.229 Fastest lap: Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes 1:26.045 on lap 57 Jacques Villeneuve had an engine change after Friday Practice, dropping him 10-places on the grid on Sunday and hence started from 19th on the grid. Race The race began with an unusual spin of Juan Pablo Montoya as he completed the formation lap. He lined up at the back of the grid, however Fisichella then stalled his engine on the grid, forcing the start to be red-flagged. Fisichella had to start from the pitlane, while Montoya reclaimed his grid position. As in 2002, the race had a first-lap accident. Christian Klien pushed Rosberg, who was unable to avoid running into Massa. Massa stroked the walls on Jones corner and blew his engine, while Rosberg returned to the pits without the rear wing. Klien continued the race unharmed, but after this incident, his team mate touched Trulli and stalled him in Marina. Fortunately for the veteran RBR driver he could continue. These incidents called the Safety Car on the very first lap. Fisichella spun but continued, again in the Jones corner. Alonso passed Button when the SC was recalled two laps later, in the start/finish straight. On the third lap, Christian Klien had some problem with his suspension and crashed the barriers near Clark Chicane, and destroyed his car. Klien went out walking, happily. This crash had left many pieces of rubbish on the track, and the Safety Car went out again to help the stewards clean the zone. When the race continued, Räikkönen attacked Button and gained his place. Montoya tried that as well, though unsuccessful for many laps. Vitantonio Liuzzi made an exciting pass on Michael Schumacher, by the Sports Centre turn. The race continued uneventful for another 10 laps when pit stops began with Montoya, Button and Trulli. Fernando and Räikkönen stopped, giving Mark Webber the lead of his home Grand Prix. A gearbox failure then eliminated him. Another uneventful stint was run until lap 32 when Montoya touched the grass in the Prost turn, but managed to return to the track. Michael Schumacher also had the same grass cross, although the German champion could not make it back and stroke the barriers. He himself said that his car was not easy to drive, and that the tires were not warm enough. This incident called the Safety Car for the third time. Many drivers used this SC situation to go to pits. Räikkönen entered just before Montoya, making a queue. Thankfully for the Woking Team there was not much delay. On lap 35 the Safety Car was off and the race restarted. Alonso had a strategy to give an enormous gap with the SC and slow down the cars behind, and then blasted off and leave Räikkönen and Heidfeld with the trouble of Albers, creating a 3-second gap between the two leading cars. The 36th lap called the Safety Car once again. Vitantonio Liuzzi had jumped to the grass, crossed the road, bumped the left barrier, crossed the road again and stroke the right barrier near Whiteford, leaving his car completely destroyed. The race restarted on lap 40, and Fernando did exactly the same thing and got a little advantage from Räikkönen. After the incident Liuzzi blamed Villeneuve, saying that the Canadian had screwed up one of his best races. Lap 39 brought another incident to the race. Tiago Monteiro abandoned due to a mechanical problem. Lap 46 took Montoya out of the race as he crossed the blue and white band in the curve where Schumacher had had his accident. This produced an electrical problem, making him abandon. The Australian Grand Prix was not free of incidents in the last laps. On the very final lap (almost finishing), Jenson Button blew his engine, stalling the car about 10 metres from the finish line. Alonso wrapped up his tenth career victory, while Räikkönen grabbed the second place on the podium and Ralf Schumacher scored what proved to be the sole podium for Toyota in the season. Notes * Scott Speed finished eighth but had 25 seconds added to his race time for lack of attention to yellow flags. Speed was also fined $5000 for using abusive language during a post-race hearing. * Jenson Button retired on the finish line due to engine failure, deliberately giving up a points-scoring position, to avoid a 10 place position penalty in the next race. * Takuma Sato was reprimanded by the stewards for lack of attention to blue flags. * Giancarlo Fisichella started from the pit-lane after stalling on the grid, causing a one lap shortening of the race. * Juan Pablo Montoya spun on the formation lap to the grid but was able to move back to fifth (now fourth) place on the grid due to Fisichella stalling. * Lap Leaders: Jenson Button 1–3 (3); Fernando Alonso 4–19, 23–57 (51); Kimi Räikkönen 20 (1); Mark Webber 21–22 (2). * Ralf Schumacher served a pitlane drive-through penalty for exceeding the pitlane speed limit and dropped to 8th place. * Murray Walker made a return to the commentary box for a one-off with Australia's Network Ten. * Last podium: Ralf Schumacher * Last Podium for Toyota until 2008 French Grand Prix. * Last no points finish for Ferrari until 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.