British GP 2005
JULY 10, 2005
Race Notes - Montoya wins British GP
© The Cahier Archive
Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone today in his McLaren-Mercedes - his first win of the season - ahead of championship leader Fernando Alonso in his Renault and Kimi Raikkonen in the second McLaren.
Giancarlo Fisichella finished fourth in the second Renault, home-crowd favourite Jenson Button was fifth in his BAR-Honda, Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello were sixth and seventh in their Ferraris, and the final points position going to Ralf Schumacher in his Toyota.
At the start, Montoya rocketed off the grid from the second row, and passed Button into the first turn, and then Alonso to take the lead on the run down to Maggots.
Before the start, Takuma Sato BAR-Honda stalled before arriving at the grid, and had to be pushed away - but this was not done quickly enough and the Safety Car was dispatched at the end of lap one for a lap.
For the first stint, Alonso hovered around a second behind Montoya, and Kimi Raikkonen in the McLaren ran in 8th place, battling to get by Michael Schumacher in his Ferrari.
Barrichello was first to pit from fifth place on lap 17, with Villeneuve, Heidfeld and Coulthard in on lap 19, Button and Trulli in on lap 20 and Ralf Schumacher on lap 21.
Race leader Montoya pitted on lap 22, with Alonso in one lap later on lap 23 with Montoya coming out ahead of the two, with Giancarlo Fisichella taking over the lead.
Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa pitted on lap 24, Fisichella pitted from the lead on lap 25 and rejoined in third. And last to pit was Raikkonen on lap 26.
At half distance Montoya led Alonso with Fisichella, Button, Barrichello, Raikkonen, Michael Schumacher and Trulli making up the top eight.
Barrichello was the first to make his second stop, short-pitting on lap 32. Heidfeld pitted on lap 42, Trulli and Button on lap 43 and Montoya pitted on lap 44 - by the end of the second stint pulling out a 7 sec lead over Alonso.
Raikkonen pitted on lap 45 - passing Button on the stop. Barrichello made his final stop on lap 45.
Fisichella pitted on lap 46 - stalling while exiting the pit - allowing Raikkonen to get by and take over third place.
Alonso was the last of the leaders to pit on lap 49 - coming out 1.8 seconds behind Montoya and trailed him to the flag.