Friday 31
11:00-12:00 Friday Practice 1
14:00-15:00 Friday Practice 2
Saturday 1
11:00-12:00 Saturday Practice
14:00 Qualifying
Sunday 2
14:00 Race
Race
Pos No Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 1 Fernando Alonso Renault 57 1:34:27.870 3 10
2 3 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes 57 +1.8 secs 4 8
3 7 Ralf Schumacher Toyota 57 +24.8 secs 6 6
4 16 Nick Heidfeld Sauber-BMW 57 +31.0 secs 8 5
5 2 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 57 +38.4 secs 2 4
6 17 Jacques Villeneuve Sauber-BMW 57 +49.5 secs 19 3
7 11 Rubens Barrichello Honda 57 +51.9 secs 16 2
8 21 Scott Speed STR-Cosworth 57 +53.8 secs 18 1
9 14 David Coulthard RBR-Ferrari 57 +53.9 secs 11
10 12 Jenson Button Honda 56 +1 Lap 1
11 19 Christijan Albers MF1-Toyota 56 +1 Lap 17
12 22 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 55 +2 Lap 21
13 23 Yuji Ide Super Aguri-Honda 54 +3 Lap 22
Ret 4 Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-Mercedes 46 +11 Lap 5
Ret 18 Tiago Monteiro MF1-Toyota 39 +18 Lap 20
Ret 20 Vitantonio Liuzzi STR-Cosworth 37 Accident 12
Ret 5 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 32 Accident 10
Ret 9 Mark Webber Williams-Cosworth 22 Transmission 7
Ret 15 Christian Klien RBR-Ferrari 4 Accident 13
Ret 8 Jarno Trulli Toyota 0 + secs 9
Ret 10 Nico Rosberg Williams-Cosworth 0 Accident damage 14
Ret 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari 0 Accident 15
Fastest Lap: Kimi Räikkönen 1:26.045
Qual
Pos No Driver Team First Second Third
1 12 Jenson Button Honda 1:28.081 1:26.337 1:25.229
2 2 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 1:27.765 1:26.196 1:25.635
3 1 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:28.569 1:25.729 1:25.778
4 3 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes 1:27.193 1:26.161 1:25.822
5 4 Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-Mercedes 1:27.079 1:25.902 1:25.976
6 7 Ralf Schumacher Toyota 1:28.007 1:26.596 1:26.612
7 9 Mark Webber Williams-Cosworth 1:27.669 1:26.075 1:26.937
8 16 Nick Heidfeld Sauber-BMW 1:27.796 1:26.014 1:27.579
9 17 Jacques Villeneuve Sauber-BMW 1:28.460 1:26.714 1:29.239
10 8 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:27.748 1:26.327
11 5 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 1:28.228 1:26.718
12 14 David Coulthard RBR-Ferrari 1:28.408 1:27.023
13 20 Vitantonio Liuzzi STR-Cosworth 1:28.999 1:27.219
14 15 Christian Klien RBR-Ferrari 1:28.757 1:27.591
15 10 Nico Rosberg Williams-Cosworth 1:28.351 1:29.422
16 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:28.868
17 11 Rubens Barrichello Honda 1:29.943
18 19 Christijan Albers MF1-Toyota 1:30.226
19 21 Scott Speed STR-Cosworth 1:30.426
20 18 Tiago Monteiro MF1-Toyota 1:30.709
21 22 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 1:32.279
22 23 Yuji Ide Super Aguri-Honda 1:36.164
Albert Park
220 Albert Road
South Melbourne
Australia
Tel: (+61) 392587100
Fax: (+61) 396993727
Web: http://www.grandprix.com.au
When Formula One came to Australia in 1985 it set up home in Adelaide. However, ex-racer-turned-entrepreneur Bob Jane wanted a race in Melbourne. He created a huge "thunderdome" and invented the AUSCAR series, bringing NASCAR action to Australia.
The desire to have a race in Melbourne did not wane. Despite the popular end of season slot for the Adelaide race, pressure was growing from the Melbourne motor sport community, and in 1992 Jeff Kennett was elected the new premier of the State of Victoria. He immediately set about improving Melbourne's profile. First on his list was the Australian Grand Prix.
An agreement was reached with Formula One in 1993, but the contract with Adelaide did not expire until 1995, so Kennett had plenty of time to prepare. A track was developed in Melbourne's beautiful Albert Park, part of it using closed-off public roads, and in 1996 the city held the first round of the World Championship. Since then, the venue has become the home of Formula One's season opener. The race is very popular with drivers and fans alike, and the party atmosphere of Melbourne keeps them coming back year after year.
The circuit is in central Melbourne. Frequent free trams operate from various pick-up points, the trip takes no more than a few minutes. There is a regular bus service to the circuit from Spencer Street Station and Olympic Park.
There is no parking near the circuit. If you're based out of town and driving, the organisers advise you to park-and-ride. Train, tram and bus tickets into Melbourne must be pre-purchased.
Melbourne is served by Tullamarine Airport, which lies approximately 21 km north-west of the city. There is a regular shuttle bus service to and from the airport.
|