Not that F1 is their prime focus ...

'New beginning'
Long season gives Schumacher hope for rebound
Posted: Wednesday April 20, 2005 10:36PM; Updated: Wednesday April 20,
2005 10:36PM

ROME (AP) -- Michael Schumacher is hoping this weekend's San Marino
Grand Prix will mark a "new beginning" for his Ferrari team that so far
this season has been unable to maintain its dominance of Formula One.

With only two points from three races, the seven-time Formula One
champion trails Renault's Fernando Alonso by 24 points entering the race
in Ferrari's backyard.

"It's our home race and obviously we want to do well," Schumacher was
quoted as saying on Ferrari's Web site. "Also, this year, the beginning
of the European season coincides with a sort of new beginning for us. We
want to get back in the race for the title and we think our chances are
pretty good."

While no driver has ever overcome a 24-point deficit after three races
and gone on to win the crown, Schumacher's title runs each of the past
five seasons and this season's 19-race calendar -- the longest in
history -- give him hope.

The German driver has been nearly unbeatable in Imola since 1999,
winning five of the past six seasons, with only brother Ralf Schumacher
interrupting the streak in 2001.

Schumacher is also much more confident in his new Ferrari F2005 model
entering Imola.

Ferrari rushed the F2005 into competition at the Bahrain Grand Prix
three weeks ago and improved in qualifying -- Schumacher was second
behind pole sitter Alonso -- but Schumacher was forced to retire with an
engine problem after just 12 laps.

Schumacher also retired in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and
was seventh in Malaysia for his only finish so far.

Since Bahrain, Schumacher and teammate Rubens Barrichello have completed
2,238 miles of testing in the F2005, the equivalent of roughly a dozen
races.

Imola's Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit also should favor Ferrari's
Bridgestone tires, which suffered in the heat of Malaysia and Bahrain,
while Renault and other opponents' Michelins proved better.

"The course here has always been good for us and I have great memories
from this circuit," Schumacher said. "The F2005 is fast as was already
shown in Bahrain. Sure, we didn't finish the race there, but I think
with the testing we've done since then we've resolved any problems.

"We also have some new aerodynamic parts available for the F2005. We've
been focusing particularly on this race. I am certain we can compete for
the victory."

Victory has belonged to Renault so far this season. Giancarlo Fisichella
won in Australia -- with Alonso not far behind in third -- and the
Spaniard took the checkered flag in the next two races.

"So far, the R25 has been competitive on all the types of circuits we
have visited; I expect it will continue in San Marino," Alonso said of
his car.

"When we talk about the championship, we should not do it based on the
first three races. It is the last three or four races of the season that
will be the important ones I think," Alonso said.

Last season's title was virtually decided after Schumacher won the first
five races.

A year ago at Imola, Britain's Jenson Button of BAR Honda emerged as a
possible threat to Schumacher when he claimed his first pole position
and finished second in the race. This season, Button is yet to claim a
point so far.

The surprising team now is Toyota with Jarno Trulli, who is second in
the driver's standings, and Ralf Schumacher, who is fourth.

McLaren-Mercedes is third in the constructor's standings behind Renault
and Toyota, but will be without Juan Pablo Montoya for the second
consecutive race. The Colombian is still recuperating from a shoulder
injury suffered playing tennis.

Montoya will be replaced by Alex Wurz of Austria this weekend.

Antonio Liuzzi, last season's F3000 champion, will make his Formula One
debut for Red Bull, bumping Christian Klien down to the team's third
driver spot.

With Liuzzi an added Italian attraction to Trulli and Fisichella's
impressive starts, organizers are hoping for a bigger fan turnout than
in past years. Imola nearly was eliminated from the calendar for this
season and the circuit is hoping to replace crumbling infrastructures in
time for next year's race.

MC Distro