Voeckler, Underdogs Rule in Dijon

by Klon  19/07/2015 | 1:34 0 Posted in 1979 - 2009, FIA, Formula 1 

Qualifying:

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Report:

Many retirements gave small teams a shot which some of them used very well.

The final race of the European season was, appropriately enough, the European Grand Prix. The European season sure went out with a bang, although mostly a bang of exploding engines. The Circuit de Dijon-Prenois proved to be a car killer, only the German Grand Prix caused more retirements this season, resulting in quite a mixed-up result.

From a sportive perspective, the many retirements of this race were a major disappointment, as they turned a potential three-way battle between Guillaume Gauthier, Alain Prost and the eventual race winner Jérémy-Étienne Voeckler into a dominant drive which turned out to make F1 history: never before has a driver won a race with three laps advantage over the second-placed driver.

However, one group relishes this type of race: underdogs know their biggest chances arrive when chaos occurs. The biggest underdogs today were Minardi, who had two cars looking good. Even though Pierluigi Martini did not manage to finish the race, Nannini was able to secure second place: Minardi’s first podium and Nannini’s best career result.

They were not the only small team scoring big. Zakspeed had a similar scenario, only more heartbreaking, as Nicchi retired on the final lap, leaving Johansson to grab his podium spot. Matarazzo got himself a very valueable fourth place, by far the best performance he has delivered. Behind a very disappointing Arnoux, Kazuki Fushida secured Coloni’s first points in Formula One.

Race:

1. Jérémy-Étienne Voeckler, McLaren-TAG
2. Alessandro Nannini, Minardi-Motori Moderni
3. Stefan Johansson, Zakspeed
4. Arsenio Matarazzo, Lola-Ford
5. René Arnoux, Ligier-Alfa Romeo
6. Kazuki Fushida, Coloni-Ford
7. Alex Caffi, Osella-Alfa Romeo
8. Valentino Nicchi, Zakspeed (retired but classified)

Fastest Lap:

Ayrton Senna – 1:02.835

Infinite Improbability Drive Of The Race:

Minardi-Motori Moderni – Even a late retirement was not able to truly spoil their party today.

Reject Of The Race:

Jonathan Palmer – Threw away points and hurt himself in the process

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