Fustrating day for Toyota at Interlagos

Finished 10th
By Huw Alban (06/03/03)
April 6 2003

The 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix was dominated by the weather, but it was a Jordan that ultimately ruined the team's chances today. Cristiano da Matta scored his second race finish for Toyota, at the end of an incident packed and shortened race.

The race director took the decision to delay the start of the race by 20 minutes to assess the weather conditions. Heavy rain had started about 3 hours before the scheduled start of the race, and only let up for about 20 minutes. Standing water could be seen on the pit straight, which is itself remarkable as the pit straight is uphill !

The race started under a safety car because of the dangerously wet conditions. Olivier Panis was seen pitting at the end of the formation lap, with the TV coverage catching the mechanics having to restart the TF103 in the pit box. Because of the tightly bunched up grid, still running behind the safety car, Panis rejoined the circuit in 19th place. Cristiano da Matta had benefitted from a number of his rivals in front of him having problems and starting from the pit lane - the net result of which was that the Brazilian was running 14th.

After the formation lap and 7 racing laps the safety car pulled in and the race got under way. At the end of the first racing lap da Matta makes a place to 13th. By lap 14 extra pit stops from Ralph Firman and Giancarlo Fisichella had moved Olivier Panis to 17th place.

Lap 17 was where it all went wrong for Panis. He had just completed the pit straight followed by Giancarlo Fisichella and Ralph Firman, when the Englishman's right front suspension collapsed. This pitched the Jordan into a sideways slide straight into the back of Panis's TF103 which was slowing for the first corner. The impact comprehensively smashed the back of Olivier's car retiring him from the race immediately. Fortunately neither driver was unhurt in the incident, and Giancarlo Fisichella also managed to avoid any entanglement.

The incident brought out the safety car, which lasted for 4 more laps. Most of the grid took to the pit lane for a 'free' pit stop, Cristiano da Matta being a noteable exception. This moved the Brazilian up to 4th place for the restart.

da Matta's 4th lasted for about 3 corners after which Ruben Barrichello overtook him on the back straight. Cristiano immediately came under pressure from Juan Pablo Montoya, and did well to defend his position. The Brazilian lost his position to Montoya during lap 24, but Montoya then had a massive spin and accident at turn 3 giving da Matta the position back.

Lap 25 saw a rare mistake from Michael Schumacher, again at turn 3, bringing out the safety car again. Cristiano da Matta made the most of this opportunity and made a quick pit stop emerging back out in 13th. The remainder of the race was relatively trouble free, certainly from a Toyota point of view. There were a number of further retirements due to the unpredictable wet conditions at turn 3, but most noteably a massive shunt for Mark Webber in the Jaguar at the start of the pit straight. Third placed Ferando Alonso then plowed into the wreakage left behind after Webber's accident and he too plows into the barrier, stopping the race on lap 52.

Cristiano da Matta was classified as finishing 10th after the result was declared by the race marshals. Ultimatley a disappointing race for Toyota - but one marred by uncertainty over the health of Alonso who was stretchered away from the circuit.

TotallyToyota wishes him a speedy recovery.