Barcellona Durango Benetton race recap

<pre> 3 - BARCELLONA (Spagna) Gara/Race - 28/04/2001 Campionato Internazionale FIA F.3000 Jaime MELO - classificato/ 21st Gabriele LANCIERI - ritirato/ did not finished 1 T.Enge (Nordic) 2 B.Leinders (KTR) 3 J.Wilson ...

<pre> 3 - BARCELLONA (Spagna) Gara/Race - 28/04/2001 Campionato Internazionale FIA F.3000

Jaime MELO - classificato/ 21st Gabriele LANCIERI - ritirato/ did not finished 1 T.Enge (Nordic) 2 B.Leinders (KTR) 3 J.Wilson (DAMS) </pre> A bad weekend race for team Durango Benetton. On the grid Lancieri's Lola has difficulties to start so it is helped by the mechanics, but then the stewards decides for a 10 second stop and go. Gabriele rejoins the track but crosses the white line and takes other 10 seconds of penalty. For a driver misunderstanding he repeates this action and is punished again with 20 seconds. The team decides then to stop him definitely. His team mate Brazilian Jaime Melo Jnr., started from his 15th position, is hit on the rear by Gollin and spins but continues with a big delay and closes the gap finishing in 21st position. Melo has been the only driver to overtake during the race.

JAIME MELO:

"My start has been ruined by Gollin who hit me. I pushed as much as I could; the car was well balanced and I could manage to maintain a good rhythm while I was chasing Manning."

GABRIELE LANCIERI: "

"On the grid I had some problems 'cause the car didn't start. I've been helped by my mechanics but the race stewards gave me 10 second stop and go. When I went out of the pit lane I didn't see I was crossing the white line and the same is for the second time it happened.I'm very sorry for this."

Jaime Melo and team Durango, with 6 points, are actually in 4th position in the drivers and teams classifications

Temperatura aria & asfalto/ Air & track temperature: 25C - 19C
Tempo/ Weather: sole, molto caldo/ sunny, very hot