Results from the 2005 Canadian Grand Prix
The Canadian Grand Prix was action-packed. Throughout the race it was unclear who would actually win. What a race!
The weekend started out extremely promising for the BAR Honda team, who have been having a hard time getting back on top of the game after initial mechanical problems and then after being banned from two races due to a weight violation. Jenson Button took the fastest lap and poll position on the grid, with Michael Schumacher seemingly back on top, in second position, and team Renault in third and fourth on the grid with contenders McLaren-Mercedes further down the grid. However, a win was not to be for BAR Honda, Takuma Sato had to retire in lap 40 due to brake problems and Jenson Button retired in lap 46 after an accident, an extremely frustrating outcome for Button.
The winners of the weekend were, Kimi Raikkonen in first place, Michael Schumacher in second and Rubens Barrichello in third place - after starting at the back of the field. Although it wasn't Ferrari's one-two finish from last year, the team is no doubt elated about a two-three finish this year!
The leader of the Canadian Grand Prix simply seemed to be cursed. First it was the Renaults that took the lead right off the grid, overtaking Jenson Button in pole position and Michael Schumacher in second place. Giancarlo Fisichella lead Fernando Alonso for the first 32 laps of the race, but after developing hydraulic problems had to retire from the race, with team mate Alonso taking over the lead. This is when the battle really began, with the McLaren-Mercedes' hounding Alonso. Juan Pablo Montoya put so much pressure on Alonso that he crashed out in lap 39, being the second leader casualty. Next it was Montoya's turn. Jenson Button was holding onto third place, but in lap 47 he made a fatal error coming out of the corner, taking his right front wheel off.
This was a disappointing ending for BAR Honda that had such a great start to the weekend. The safety car came out to clear the debris and while everyone else was pitting, McLaren-Mercedes made a signaling error and Montoya didn't come into the pits until lap 49. Because of this Kimi Raikkonen was able to take the lead, Montoya angry with the foul up, exited the pit lane ignoring the red light and lapped David Coulthard. Stewarts eventually black flagged Montoya for a pit lane violation, taking him out of the race. There was almost another leader casualty, as Raikkonen held on for dear life, fending off Michael Schumacher, who sensed a possible win. Raikkonen was battling a steering problem and an error in lap 64 almost gave the lead to Schumacher, but somehow he held on, winning with just a 1.1 second lead. After the final lap disappointment at the prevous race.
The Finn driver must have been relieved to limp home safetly this time and put himself back in contention for the Drivers'Champioinship, particularly with Renault picking up no points this weekend. Raikkonen has narrowed the gap for the Drivers'Championship to 22 points from first place Alonso, with a total of 29. This was the first time Alonso didn't finish a race this season, so a disappointing weekend for Renault. Things are even closer in the Constructors' Championship, with McLaren-Mercedes up to 63 points in second place behind Renault's 76 points.
Full race result from Canada (2005)
- Kimi Raikkonen - McLaren-Mercedes 1h 32m 09.290s
- Michael Schumacher - Ferrari +1.1s
- Rubens Barrichello - Ferrari +40.4s
- Felipe Massa - Sauber-Petronas +55.1a
- Mark Webber - Williams-BMW +55.7s
- Ralf Schumacher - Toyota +1 lap
- David Coulthard - Red Bull Racing +1 lap
- Christian Klien - Red Bull Racing +1 lap
- Jacques Villeneuve - Sauber-Petronas +1 lap
- Tiago Monteiro - Jordan-Toyota +3 laps
- Cristijan Albers - Minardi-Cosworth +3 laps