2001 Belgian Grand Prix Race Report
Making up lost ground, Montoya was now up to 15th and making serious in-roads to the drivers in front. Unable to fend off Hakkinen and Coulthard, Fisichella was passed by the McLaren pair a lap later as they rounded Les Combes with Villeneuve overtaking Kimi Raikkonen for 7th.
Lap 4, and with it came Burti's horrifying accident...On the approach to Blanchimont, the Brazilian pulled to the inside and attempted a manoeuvre on Irvine's Jaguar. Not expecting the Prost to make the move, the Ulsterman took his conventional line and the two collided. His front wing now gone, Burti speared across the gravel trap and ploughed into the tyre wall at sickening speed. Off too went Irvine and though he stepped from his mangled machine intact, his pursuer was less fortunate. Buried beneath the wall of rubber, it took some 3 minutes for the safety crew - and Irvine, to pull the Brazilian out so he could be attended to by the medical team. Screens were erected by the track marshals and initially, everyone feared the worst. The Safety Car was deployed at first, followed a few minutes later by the red flag. With Burti now on his way to hospital - having received check-up at the circuit medical centre, it was announced the race would be re-started.
According to the Formula 1 Sporting Regulations (Article 158. Case B) the first part of the race is declared null and void with the grid being established by the finishing order in the first four laps which left Schumacher's Ferrari on pole, then it was Ralf, Barrichello, Hakkinen, Coulthard, Fisichella. With mere seconds remaining before the start of the parade lap, it became clear Ralf Schumacher's WIlliams was sitting unusually high off the ground. As it turned out, his mechanics had failed to remove the 'jack' and as the field set off on their way to the grid, the German could do nothing and waited to be brought back down to earth by his team. He duly took up his position at the back and as the lights went out, it was brother Michael who lead them into the first turn. Making another sensational start, the two Benetton's of Fisichella and Button rocketed into 2nd and 4th though on the run up the hill, the Brit was passed by Hakkinen. Gaining yet more ground on his competitors, Montoya's day of misery ended with a blown BMW engine.
Latest Articles