Toyota the first home with two cars in the points

By Nick Sparkes
May 9 2005

Panasonic Toyota Racing were able to add to their healthy points tally with Jarno Trulli leading home Ralf Schumacher for 3rd and 4th. Although race victory was expected after Saturday afternoon, Panasonic Toyota Racing was able to continue their 100% finishing record.

Toyota drivers Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher were left fighting over the final points paying positions until a pit stop for a new nose for Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella and then a puncture and retirement for Michael Schumacher's Ferraro left the boys in red and white fighting over the final podium slot. During the final 20 laps Ralf pressured Jarno for that gap which would allow him to take his position, but the gap never came and Ralf possibly under team orders followed his Italian teammate Jarno Trulli home in 4th.

During the second half of the race many of the drivers suffered punctures, Michael Schumacher lost his podium position through a rear puncture, then a possible suspension failure a lap later forced the 7-time champion into retirement. Michelin runner Felipe Massa also stopped two laps to the end with a puncture.

Elsewhere McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen converted his pole position into a race victory, his first of the season. Behind crowd favourite Fernando Alonso added to his world championship bid with second in his Renault.

The Panasonic Toyota team have enjoyed a very successful and exciting weekend and have been on the pace since Friday morning. Sadly the pole position and race win didn’t come here at Barcelona, but Monaco in two weeks time could see a repeat of Jarno’s race win which he took last year. We will have to wait and see!

A full Toyota report will follow.