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Italian GP: Kimi Raikkonen preview
Raikkonen: "I don't make the rules" Monza - Just a few days after misfortune in the shape of a spin into the Spa barriers, ended what had been a brilliant race for Kimi Raikkonen, the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro driver was back facing the media ...
Published: Sep 12, 2008, 10:25 AM
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Raikkonen: "I don't make the rules"
Monza - Just a few days after misfortune in the shape of a spin into the Spa barriers, ended what had been a brilliant race for Kimi Raikkonen, the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro driver was back facing the media at Ferrari's home race weekend in the Royal Park of Monza.
Inevitably, the incident at the chicane with Lewis Hamilton was the main point of interest for the media. "In one way it was a racing incident, but there are rules to cover these situations," began Kimi. "I am not the man who makes those rules and those who do took the decision that they did. I don't have anything to say about it, except that obviously, I prefer a race to be decided on the track, not after it is over, but the rules are there to follow. As far as the actual driving conditions at the time of the incident were concerned, when you are in front it is a bit trickier as you don't know what to expect, whereas the guy behind gets some warning, which helps to read the situation. Out in front you just try and go as quick as the grip level will let you go. I knew that if it started raining it would be hard to keep out in front. I would have come in to change onto the rain tyres, but I never made the final couple of hundred metres to get to the pits!
"It's easy to say afterwards that I could have settled for second place, but I wanted to win and I went for it and it cost me some points, but at least I had more fun in Spa than I had in some other races. The position I am in now means that in terms of the championship, I have nothing to lose, so that opens up more choices in how I tackle the remaining races. I will do the best I can and hopefully I can get back to the front and try and win the championship. But once there is no chance of mathematically taking the title, then that will be the time to think about how I might help Felipe. But you can never be sure what will happen: look at how last season ended. Maybe I can fight back. For now though, the two of us will be racing as hard as we can."
Eventually the questions turned to this weekend and the Finn's chances in the Italian GP. "I know from the past that McLaren is always strong here, but hopefully this year we can try and challenge them for the win. We had a pretty good test here before Spa and the car is stronger here this year than a year ago. It will be hard to beat them, but I think we have quite a good chance. Let's see how the next two days go."
-credit: ferrari
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