Monaco GP Jordan preview

JORDAN-PEUGEOT MONACO GRAND PRIX PREVIEW The Benson and Hedges Jordan-Peugeot team is going for gold. The Jordan-Peugeot 196 cars, driven by Rubens Barrichello and Martin Brundle will run in a metallic gold livery at Formula One's showcase event, the Monaco Grand Prix. The race takes place on Sunday May 19th, around the streets of the famous principality. ``Monaco is the jewel in Formula One's crown.'' team owner Eddie Jordan said. ``It has a glittering reputation, so it seemed like a perfect place to unveil the new livery. ``The final details of the contract with Benson and Hedges came together just prior to the start of the season,'' he ex- plained. ``We only had seven days before the cars were due to leave for Melbourne, so we had to decide quite quickly what colour we would paint them. The new metallic gold livery better reflects the Benson and Hedges corporate image. ``The change of colours has of course meant a hectic few days for the team. The race cars returned from Imola on Tuesday afternoon and they were stripped down straight away and went off to the paint shop on Tuesday night. We got the tubs back on Wednesday night so the guys could get on with the normal pre-race workload. The bodywork started coming back on Friday and by Saturday the cars were built-up, stickered and on their way to Monaco. ``There is a certain amount of ancillary equipment which has to be painted up and quite a lot of extra bodywork we have to take to the race because of the proliferation of combinations likely to be used at Monaco. Those will be put into the extra transporter which will leave the factory next Monday. Everything will be in Monaco for the first practice session on Thursday when we get a chance to see the new colours for the first time.'' Prior to the Monaco race the Jordan team will be in action at the Pau Arnos circuit in southern France. Gianni Morbidelli will run on Sunday May 12th, handing over to Martin Brundle on May 13th. ``Like Monaco, the Pau track is tight and twisty so it gives us the opportunity to find a good balance before we head on to Monte Carlo, team manager John Walton said. ``Monaco is a low- grip, low-speed circuit. You need good torque from the engine and good traction to get the car out of all the slow corners.'' The 3,328-kilometre Monaco circuit is an unparalleled test of a drivers' skills according to Martin Brundle. ``Driving a Formula One car around Monaco is one of the great sporting chal- lenges in my view,'' Brundle said. ``It requires immense concen- tration and is a real test of a driver, both mentally and physi- cally. I'm quite fond of street circuits and I've always had a good race at Monaco, often finishing in the points there.'' This will be another home Grand Prix for Rubens Barrichello who has collected points in the previous three events. ``Like quite a few Formula One drivers I have a flat in Monaco, so this is a bit like racing around my front yard,'' he said. ``It's a fun event with lots of parties going on. There is an atmosphere in Monaco that you don't find anywhere else. I normally celebrate my birthday at this race; this year it happens a few day after the Grand Prix (May 23rd) and hopefully I'll be celebrating another finish in the points at the same time.'' Circuit length: 3.328 kms. Race distance: 78 laps (259.584 kms) 1995 Pole: Damon Hill - 1:21.952. 1995 Fastest lap: Jean Alesi - 1:24.621 1995 results: 1. Michael Schumacher Benetton-Renault 2. Damon Hill Williams-Renault 3. Gerhard Berger Ferrari 4. Johnny Herbert Benetton-Renault. 5. Mark Blundell McLaren-Mercedes. 6. Heinz-Harald Frentzen Sauber-Ford.

MC --- þ 1st 1.11 #8604 þ A rhetorical question deserves a rhetorical answer.