San Marino GP: Bridgestone race notes

Bridgestone Potenzas carry Michael to fourth consecutive win of season

Bridgestone Motorsport and the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro team celebrated their fourth consecutive win of the season this afternoon at the San Marino GP after Michael Schumacher stormed to his 74th grand prix win. A front row start and enough fuel to stay out longer than poleman Button enabled the current points' leader to set the fastest lap of the race before his first pitstop and consequently saw him snatch the lead an excellent display of teamwork and tactics.

Teammate Rubens Barrichello, meanwhile, found himself caught in the pack and finished sixth while ninth and tenth place finishes for Sauber Pertronas' Giancarlo Fisichella and Felipe Massa brought Bridgestone's tally of drivers in the top ten to four. Schumacher now leads the championship with 40 points, 16 ahead of second placed Barrichello. Ferrari has stretched its championship points tally to 64.

Shigeo Watanabe, President & C.E.O Bridgestone Corporation:

"My congratulations to Michael and Ferrari. It was a great race in front of Ferrari's home crowd and I'm delighted to have been here this weekend to witness the fourth consecutive Ferrari-Bridgestone win this year. Formula One is a key worldwide marketing activity for Bridgestone and it gives me great satisfaction to see our teams and drivers performing so well."

Hisao Suganuma, Technical Manager Bridgestone Motorsport:

"I'm always delighted to see a Bridgestone-shod car on the top step of the podium but to see it four times in four races is very satisfying. It is a good indication that we are on the right development track. Michael's performance today was very impressive and at certain stages he was nearly a second faster than anyone else in the field. Rubens had an unfortunate race which was a shame as he would have been running at the same pace as Michael had he not been stuck in traffic."

"Sauber's Fisichella and Massa both had a good race and narrowly missed out on points. The track conditions did change overnight due to rain but our tyre performance was consistent and strong and all in all, we're very happy. We now look ahead to the next race at Barcelona in Spain our development never stops."

Ross Brawn, Technical Director Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro:

"Today was a special day for us. The guys have done a great job. The car was perfect, Bridgestone provided fantastic tyres and once again both drivers finished the race. I think those couple of extra laps that Michael was able to stay out in the first stint were crucial. He was able to get some quick laps in when it really mattered, giving him the jump in the first pitstop. It was very difficult to overtake out there today and for Rubens it was unfortunately a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time his race just didn't work out. But for Michael a perfect day."

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