2006 Japanese Grand Prix

2006 Japanese Grand Prix
Date	October 8, 2006
Round	17
Track	Suzuka
Laps	53
Weather	Hot & Sunny
Pole Position
Driver	Felipe Massa
Time	1:29.599
Fastest Lap
Driver	Fernando Alonso
Time	1:32.676

With the race set to switch to Fuji in 2007, the World Championship reached Suzuka for possibly the final time.

With the Drivers’ Championship level on points, only a Michael Schumacher win and Fernando Alonso missing out on a points’ finish could decide the World Championship.

The weekend started in the damp conditions that were a problem the weekend before. But by the time the track dried out, Ferrari had dry tyres that were a second a lap faster than the Renault, playing right into Schumacher’s hands. Ferrari were dominant in Qualifying, with Schumacher being beaten to pole position only by his team-mate. Alonso could only finish fifth in qualifying.

On race day, it seemed Ferrari would run away from the pack, and that Alonso would have to try and limit the damage for the final race of the season.

In the opening stint, Ferrari led out front, with Felipe Massa allowing Schumacher to lead. Ralf Schumacher held up Alonso in his Toyota. Alonso did eventually get through, by which time Schumacher had a ten second lead over him.

Felipe Massa suffered a puncture and had to pit slightly early. He was held up by Nick Heidfeld when he left the pits, which saw Alonso overtake after his stop.

Schumacher and Alonso then broke clear of the pack, with Schumacher maintaining his lead of five seconds.

Disaster struck for him though on Lap 37, when Michael Schumacher had an engine problem, forcing him to retire from the Grand Prix. It was the first such incident for Schumacher since the 2001 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis.

With Schumacher’s retirement, Alonso was left to cruise to victory. Felipe Massa was second, and Giancarlo Fisichella was an emotional third. His best friend had died on the Thursday prior to the race.

Alonso led the World Championship by 10 points, and a points finish in Interlagos would make him the World Champion for the second successive year. Michael Schumacher has to win in Interlagos to have any chance of retiring as World Champion. Renault also pulled out a big lead in the Constructors’ Championship due to Michael Schumacher’s retirement.

[edit] Results

Rank	Driver	Constructor	Laps	Time/Retired	Grid	Points
1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	53	1:23:52.413	5	10
2	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	53	+16.1 sec	1	8
3	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	53	+ 23.9 sec	6	6
4	Jenson Button	Honda	53	+ 34.1 sec	7	5
5	Kimi Raikkonen	McLaren	53	+43.5 sec	11	4
6	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	53	+ 46.7 sec	4	3
7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	53	+48.8 sec	3	2
8	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	53	+76.0 sec	9	1
9	Robert Kubica	BMW Sauber	53	+76.9 sec	12
10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	52	+1 lap	10
11	Pedro de la Rosa	McLaren	52	+1 lap	13
12	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	52	+1 lap	8
13	Robert Doornbos	Red Bull	52	+1 lap	18
14	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	52	+1 lap	15
15	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	52	+1 lap	20
16	Tiago Monteiro	Spyker	51	+2 laps	21
17	Sakon Yamamoto	Super Aguri	50	+3 laps	22
18	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	48	+Steering	19
19	Mark Webber	Williams	39	+Accident	14
20	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	36	+Engine	2
21	David Coulthard	Red Bull	35	+Gearbox	17
22	Christijan Albers	Spyker	20	+Driveshaft	16
23	[[]]	[[]]		+
24	[[]]	[[]]		+
25	[[]]	[[]]		+
26	[[]]	[[]]		+

2006 Formula One Season
	- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Japanese Grand Prix
1976 • 1977 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008
Tracks: Fuji • Suzuka

2006 Japanese Grand Prix
Date	October 8, 2006
Round	17
Track	Suzuka
Laps	53
Weather	Hot & Sunny
Pole Position
Driver
Time
Fastest Lap
Driver
Time