Montoya mitigates McLaren's Monza misery

Raikkonen : What more can I do?

The "Palace of speed" was set ablaze on Sunday by the Gods of Speed, the McLaren's and the Renault's, on a day that saw the mercurial Montoya take podium, salvaging some pride for the Woking team after ill-luck struck down their championship contender Raikkonen. Alonso, the confirmed Crown Prince to Schumacher's reign came in second followed by his Italian teammate Giancarlo Fissichella. The belligerent Raikkonen came in fourth, followed by the two Toyota's of Trulli and Ralf. Pizzonia, in an eyebrow raising performance proved his mettle, coming in seventh for Williams. Button managed to salvage the last point for BAR Honda in a thoroughly exciting Italian Grand Prix.

Come saturday, the McLaren's were dealt a severe blow with Kimi Raikkonen's engine being detected with a defective inlet valve. An amazing third time in five races that the Finn is losing grid positions owing to the goddess of luck, Fortuna, turning a blind-eye on him. Ironically, the British team had topped the charts in both practice sessions on friday. Raikkonen, inspite of knowing that he could best start off on the sixth row of the grid set blistering pace ahead of team mate Montoya. Thus Montoya would take pole ahead of Alonso, Button and Sato. Button and Sato, it was revealed later, were light on their fuel loads, and their qualifying timings were not to be taken seriously. Trulli was fifth ahead of the two Scuderia's. Ironically, the Maranello based outfit had more than sealed both the Driver's and Constructor's championships by this time last year. But ofcourse, this was the land of the Tifosi, and the Italians would still proudly don their Scarlet caps embroidered with the prancing horse. Fissichella started eigth and Ralf ninth. Raikkonen started eleventh, behind Scotsman Coulthard and aside Villeneuve, both former champions. The race started, with everybody expecting Raikkonen(Yes, Raikkonen!!!) to win.

Montoya started the race in blistering fashion, speeding ahead of the chasing Alonso with ease. However, all eyes were on the middle of the grid, where the fiery Finn sat crouched in his cockpit, ready for an afternoon of toil. Villeneuve kept him at bay and the Finn did not make the brilliant start that everybody expected him to make. The back of the pack saw a flurry of cars grouping together, followed by their returning to the pits for a quick-fix. Karthikeyan, Albers,Webber and Coulthard were involved in the incident. Schumacher cut the chicane and got past Trulli's Toyota but the Italian got back his position in a couple of laps. Montoya and Alonso then traded fast laps as Raikkonen was stuck in the tail of cars, knowing well that the championship might be in jeopardy.

With eleven laps gone and not a position improved, Raikkonen must have been relieved to see the Petronas car ahead of him divert towards the pits. Schumacher also pitted on the same lap, signifying that the Ferrari's were slower in the qualifying despite their lighter fuel tanks. As the pit-crews of teams swung into action, Raikkonen powered ahead to within a second of Ralf Schumacher. Alonso dove into the pits, and came out behind Ralf but ahead of Raikkonen. Raikkonen was all over an Alonso intent on reducing Raikkonen's momentum. A first chicane goof-up by both drivers put them out of rhythm as the Finn mustered ahead at the second chicane, the Renault driver having let his arch rival through. Raikkonen then went into the pits after twenty-five laps, even as drivers like Webber were aligning for a second pit-stop. Raikkonen came out of the pits after a lengthy pit-stop fuelling doubts that the McLaren might after all be on a one-stop strategy.

With twenty-five laps gone, Montoya had settled for first, a clear ten second lead over Alonso. Raikkonen seemed all set to rush to the podium. But luck or rather the lack of it sees Raikkonen limp back to the pits with a right rear tyre damage. Clearly, the Finn appeared to have been charging too hard. Ironically, he emerged behing Villeneuve. The race seems to be a unique one with no retirements what so ever. The second set of pit-stops are over and Raikkonen powers ahead, racing fourth with just the two Renault's and his team-mate racing ahead of him. The Finn makes a rare mistake, losing track time and allowing the "mobile chicane" Trulli to go ahead. He however regains position from Trulli, although over powering Fissichella and challenging Alonso seems improbable if not impossible.

With the race about to come to a close, Montoya's left rear seems to have a blotch. The Columbian, however, nursed his McLaren to victory, even as Ron Dennis must have contemplated a Nurburgring like incident where Kimi Raikkonen spun out in spectacular fasion with just a couple of miles to the finish. Alonso finished second, followed by the delighted Fissichella in third. Raikkonen came in fourth, knowing well that had it not been for the tyre failure, the podium would have seen two McLaren's.

The Toyota's must have been delighted with their performance, the Japanese team managing to grab fifth and sixth positions, ahead of Pizzonia, the make-shift Williams driver who has more than proved that he is indeed race material. Button grabbed the sole point for BAR, denying the Ferrari's something they have taken for granted since 1995, a point at Monza, if not a victory. For the second time this decade, the Ferrari's have failed to win here. Indeed the Tifosi would have to wait for a year, and hope that Schumacher, Todt and the company would power back to victory.

Among others of note were Massa, who came in ninth in a Sauber, ahead of both the Ferraris. The bottom four were made of the usual four cars, the two Minardi's and the Jordans, with even their much hyped B-Spec car failing to impress. News from the paddock suggests that the new Jordan behaves much better in corners and when brakes are applied. It is to be seen if Narain, the wilder of the two drivers at Jordan can showcase his talent better at this race. With the "Silly season" having begun, Narain better come across, after all, there are drivers whose backers are richer than the Tata's.

With four races to go, it is now clear that but for major incidents, Alonso would cruise to the championship whislt Raikkonen can only pray. And pray he should to Sors and Spes, the goddesses of luck and hope. For if he needs to finish races, he needs luck, and if he is to remain in contention for the championship he needs to have hope, an indulgance that Raikkonen can hardly afford. Alonso is on 103, Raikkonen is on 76. Schumacher is on 55, although Montoya at 50 seems likely to pass him. The Championship fight might go to the wire, with McLanren eight points off the French team.

Adios till Spa, the Belgian Grand Prix.