Formula 1
Trulli reviews Indianapolis
Renault's Jarno Trulli looks back over the United States Grand Prix weekend "We had a really hard weekend in Indy -- as soon as we started on Friday, it seemed like things would be difficult, so it is great to come away with a fourth-place finish, ...
Published: Jun 22, 2004, 11:27 PM
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Renault's Jarno Trulli looks back over the United States Grand Prix weekend
"We had a really hard weekend in Indy -- as soon as we started on Friday, it seemed like things would be difficult, so it is great to come away with a fourth-place finish, especially after I had to start last following a problem in qualifying."
Jarno Trulli.
Photo by Michael Kim.
"When running started on Friday, we knew things were going to be different from Canada -- it was very low grip conditions and when that is the case, the car is so hard to drive -- it has understeer on the way into the corner and then oversteer on the exit."
"We tried a few things with the set-up, but the main aim for the day was to choose our tyres and we managed to do that, even though Fernando couldn't do much in the second session after he spun. Nevertheless we collected the information we needed, but I could only go twelfth fastest. We knew that it would be a long evening ahead."
"By Saturday morning, things had improved: the engineers did a good job overnight, and it was definitely better to drive. I was sixth then ninth in practice and given the strategy we had chosen, we thought that was roughly the position we should be starting from. The grip level on the circuit had improved, and we worked step-by-step on the balance so by qualifying, the car was OK."
"However, when it came to final qualifying, I couldn't get out of the garage: the mechanics had to push me in order to engage first gear, and then the car was changing gear on its own, without me doing anything. I tried to do a flying lap but as soon as I got to the first corner and braked, the car stayed in top gear, and it was impossible to do anything."
"So I started last... and I was only hoping for some points. I got a good start, and the accident at the first corner helped me because it took some cars out in front of me, so I was 11th by the end of the first lap. I couldn't get past Webber in front when the race re-started, but then Ralf's accident meant we had another safety car, so we decided to bring the pit-stop forward. That was lap 11, and I didn't stop again until lap 46, so I just had to keep on pushing, and trying to drive to the maximum the car could do."
"After my last stop, Sato was closing and I was beginning to struggle with the rear tyres: I had a small gap when I made a mistake, and he caught right up. Coming through the banking that lap, there were flags waving because of oil on the track, so I lifted off -- and he passed me under braking into the first corner. We both ran wide and I spun, which meant I lost more time."
"After then, all I could do was try and lap consistently until the end of the race, and hold position. I was slightly disappointed when I came out of the car, but when you think about it, to be fourth after starting twentieth is a pretty good result. It helped the team keep a good gap to BAR, and I am now only three points behind Jenson in the drivers' standings."
"Next race is Magny-Cours, so we will be wanting to do something extra special for our home event. Before then, I have some time off -- Fernando and Franck are testing this week. But I will be in touch with the team to talk about set-ups and plans for France. See you then!"
-renault-
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