Malaysian GP Race DayWelcome to coverge of the second round of the 2004 formula 1 season. It is Williams who are in prime position for the race after locking out the front row in qualifying with current championship leader Rubens Barrichello sat on pole position. The forecast shows an usually dry race for Sepang with no rain expected in the next two hours.
And the race is underway as Villenueve is looking for a way past the Ferrari of Schumacher
But its his team mate Da Matta who squeezes his way into 5th instead
Meanwhile upfront Barrichello still holds the lead on the run down to turn 3
One of the Arrows locking up behind the Sauber of Glock
A fastest lap for Barrichello
Raikkonen is now into 17th after the second lap of the race
But what is this... Rubens is off into the gravel!!!
And as his team mate is forced to slow behind him Fisichella flies into the lead
And sets a new fastest lap
Alonso is currently the lowest placed McLaren driver in 13th
Whilst his team mate is in 10th
Da Matta having a great race so far and is up into 3rd
Meanwhile Rubens is making his way back to the front as he easilly dispatches Schumacher to take 5th
Heidfeld is in a spin at turn 7
He gets going again, albeit in last place
Barrichello now has his sights set on 4th placed Coulthard
Whilst his team mate now holds the fastest lap
As he sails past Fisichella on the run down to turn 1 to take the lead
De la Rosa is currently running in 16th place
Alonso is the next driver off the road at 7
He rejoins in 16th
Schumacher and Coulthard are side by side down the back straight...
And he has the inside line into the final corner...
But he chickens out, very unlike the Schumacher we're used to. Meanwhile Montoya sets a new fastest lap
Whilst Frentzen is having a look at 17th placed man Raikkonen
But unlike Schumacher makes it stick
Schumacher is still having a look at Coulthard
But they make contact!
However Schumacher backs out the move and Coulthard holds onto 5th for now
Barrichello just flies past Da Matta to take 3rd. He seems to be a lot lighter on fuel than the rest of the field...
And as a result sets the fastest lap of the race, could Williams be trying a three stopper...
Lotterer is currently residing in 12th
With the field now starting the spread out its time for some standings
Lotterer getting his braking all wrong going onto the back straight...
And now he has Sato all over his gearbox
And Sato makes the move stick
Meanwhile unseen by the cameras Barrichello has gotten past Fisichella to make it a Williams 1-2, and now the pair and pulling away from the field at an alarming rate
Trulli having a look at the Sauber of Heidfeld
And he takes the position going into turn 1
But hand on whats going on here? a bit of synchronized drifting from Da Matta and Schumacher?
A logical guess would be that it was a result of another failed overtaking attempt. However the German realizes his mistake and lets Da Matta back through
Some team orders going on here as the obviously quicker Barrichello overtakes a unusually timid Montoya with ease
However this is more like it as the two are side by side down the home stretch
And Montoya retakes the lead, very nervy moments for the Williams camp
Its now Glocks turn to spin at 7 as he is left facing the wrong way
It looks like he made the exact same mistake as his team mate...
Meanwhile Barrichello retakes the lead from Montoya probably after some very stern words for Montoya from the team
Heidfeld working his way back up the field is now against looking for a way past Trulli
And is past the Arrows before they even reach the hairpin
Now Lotterer's is off at 7...
But he manages the keep it facing the right way
But De la Rosa manages to squeeze past going into 9...
And Frentzen also goes past in the next corner
Another fastest lap for Barrichello
Coulthard is under pressure from Villenueve
And the Canadian gets past the Scot going into turn 1
A Williams is off the road at 7! but who is it?
Its Montoya!!! Disaster for Williams who were looking good for a 1-2 finish
And Villenueve is off the road as well after a solid drive
However he's lucky enough to only drop to 10th
Meanwhile Montoya is now in last place
That off means the Schumacher is now in 2nd place
Barrichello is still setting blistering lap times and is almost a second quicker than Schumacher a lap at the moment...
Da Matta is still going strong in 4th
Button is the first to pit
And Frentzen soon follows as the pit calls start coming in
Montoya makes light work of Glock to move into 20th
As Schumacher pits from 2nd
Webber is having a very good, quiet drive and is currently up in 6th
As is Verstappen who has climbed the 4th place
And the leader pits
Those stop now mean that Da Matta is into second
Whilst Barrichello rejoins in 3rd
And Fisichella is back in the lead
Da Matta pits
And Fisichella does a few laps later, Barrichello is now back in the lead
Verstappen and Coulthard now occupy 2nd and 3rd, however both still need to pit
Montoya pits from 14th
Whilst Heidfeld in 21st is having a look at the Minardi of Frentzen
And he takes the place comfortably
Coulthard is now in the pits
Frentzen locking up in 3... or is he...
Indeed he hasn't, looks like a failed overtake from Montoya as his day just gets worse
Villenueve looking for a way past Schumacher for 12th
And he's through
Montoya having another look at Frentzen
And this time he avoids contact and goes through
McNish pits from 6th
Barrichello is pulling away from the field at quite a pace and currently has a 30 second lead of Schumacher in 2nd...
De la Rosa is side by side with the struggling Heidfeld down the main straight
And thats an impressive overtake from the Minardi driver
Its been a while since someone has been off the road but Trulli breaks the trend as he spins in last place
Meanwhile Heidfeld looks like he's has some fight in him again
And he puts the Minardi back in its place
Now that we're nearly at the halfway stage here are some standings
Fisichella is battling with Da Matta for 4th
But to no avail
Barrichello is now a country mile ahead as he sets a new fastest lap
Webber is currently occupying the final points spot
Wilson down in 21st runs wide at 7 as well...
But he keeps going
Alonso is now into 10th place, could points be on the cards after an abysmal weekend so far for the team?
Now Fisichella is off the road at 7
But he loses control and spins the car
And rejoins in 9th as Barrichello pits from the lead
And emerges comfortably in the lead as he is nowhere to be seen as Schumacher comes around the final corner
And in fact he is already in turn 3, this is surely his race to lose now
Here are the current standings which show that Barrichello still has 15 second lead on Schumacher...
Now several drivers are taking to the pit lane including Verstappen from 3rd
An ickle in team battle is going on between Wilson and Trulli for 21st place, it may take a while for the team to get up to speed...
Villenueve and the other Schumacher are in the pit lane
Montoya and McNish collied as the Colombian tries to make his way back to the front
But McNish holds the position
But a lap later Montoya is through and is side by side with Coulthard for the final points position
And Montoya is through as Frentzen takes to the pits
And indeed as suspected Barrichello makes a third scheduled stop but his blistering pace means he is under no threat as he emerges in the lead
Now with 10 the go and all the scheduled stops completed, here are some standings which so Barrichellos' domination
And Lotterer is off at the final corner, a very odd place to go off at such high speed...
And it looks like the young German has suffered a puncture, a great shame for him as he looked like he was going to finish ahead of his team mate Raikkonen
Alonso has now climbed to 11th place
Whilst Fisichella is having a look at his team mate in 6th...
... he looks like he has made it stick...
...but they collide and Fisichella is thrown into the air!!!
He comes back down to earth with an almighty clunk
Luckily for the Italian he's is still in the race with only a damaged front wing, however he will need to wait for the field to come past and then pit at the end of the lap...
After a quick visit to the pits Montoya is trying to overtake Schumacher for 9th...
... the two collide, however Schumacher holds the position against the over eager Montoya
Barrichello is just cruising now
Fisichella finally makes it to the pits
Meanwhile Montoya has squeezed past Schumacher coming onto the back straight, could he just sneek a point?
I think the answer maybe no after colliding with 8th placed Webber, he is now just too far down the field
Barrichello is now on the back straight for the final time...
...into the final corner...
... and makes it two in a row as Rubens Barrichello wins the Malaysian Grand Prix after a dominating drive, whilst the two Ferraris complete the podium
Full Results to follow
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