FNIPPON: Krumm fourth in third round at Mine Circuit

Michael started the race from fourth position and gained one place, immediately challenging for second. Pushing hard in the first half of the race, Michael was looking strong for a podium finish with a good overall race strategy, unfortunately his pit stop cost him dearly.

The team had a problem with the right rear wheel - unable to locate the wheel on the hub the car was put back on the ground without the wheel, simultaneously the engine died. Michael rejoined the field in fourth place, after the car was re-started and wheel fitted, having lost a great deal of time.

Michael then set about catching the now third placed Tsuchiya who had a ten second advantage.

"Today was really a disaster, we had a very good car and once I was in third I knew I could catch Ralph in second, either before or after the stop. Sadly the team had a lot of problems with the right rear wheel and this caused a delay, so we lost any chance we had of a good result.

These things happen but it is frustrating, to say the least, and I am absolutely certain we would have been second if the stop had been OK. Once I was back on the track I closed the gap right up to within a second of Tsuchiya but could not pass him as I had pushed very hard and the tyres where finished " Michael commented after the race. <pre> Pos. No. DRIVER TEAM LAP TOTAL BEST 1 19 SATOSHI MOTOYAMA excite IMPUL 61 1:19'34.746 1'16.563 2 2 RALPH FIRMAN PIAA NAKAJIMA 61 1:19'43.597 1'17.039 3 56 TAKESHI TSUCHIYA ARTA 61 1:19'45.627 1'16.996 4 6 MICHAEL KRUMM 5ZIGEN 61 1:19'47.938 1'17.037 5 5 NAOKI HATTORI 5ZIGEN 61 1:20'02.691 1'17.166 6 11 MASAMI KAGEYAMA COSMO OIL CERUMO 61 1:20'23.116 1'17.371 7 7 ALEX YOONG LeMans 61 1:20'32.517 1'17.528 8 1 TSUGIO MATSUDA PIAA NAKAJIMA 61 1:20'33.104 1'17.486 9 *20 NARAIN KARTHIKEYA Nexcite IMPUL 61 1:20'50.844 1'17.069 10 14 RYO MICHIGAMI MOONCRAFT 61 1:20'57.163 1'17.910 11 3 YUJI TACHIKAWA Olympic KONDO 60 1:18'51.424 1'17.504 12 *55 JUICHI WAKISAKA ARTA 60 1:19'38.776 1'16.959 13 69 JAROSLAW WIERCZUKDoCoMo DANDELION 60 1:20'36.864 1'18.501 14 36 TETSUJI TAMANAKA TAKAGI B-1 59 1:20'00.133 1'19.202 15 4 KATSUTOMO KANEISHI Olympic KONDO 57 1:15'58.485 1'17.989 (ABOVE FINISHED)

-       *10     ANDRE COUTO             Team Morinaga NOVA 39   52'06.553       1'18.037
-       37      MASAHIKO KAGEYAMA       TAKAGI B-1         30   40'51.099       1'18.550
-       68      HIDEKI NODA             DoCoMo DANDELION   27   36'34.968       1'17.462
-       12      SEIJI ARA               COSMO OIL CERUMO   13   17'14.428       1'17.978
-       *8      YUDAI IGARASHI          LeMans              8   11'51.243       1'18.755
-       9       RICHARD LYONS           Team Morinaga NOVA  2   2'54.093        1'21.206

-Jules