 San Marino F3000 (Imola) 2002 review.
Story by Andrew Frampton.
Sebastien Bourdais took a 'lights to flag' victory in the second round of the International Formula 3000 championship, but he was hounded all the way by round one winner Rodrigo Sperafico, who retains his lead in the championship.
On a wet, but slowly drying track, Bourdais secured pole position in the first, faster qualifying session, which he ended 0.8 seconds ahead of Rodrigo Sperafico. Giorgio Pantano took third on the grid, ahead of Antonia Pizzonia. Tiago Monterio and Nicolas Kiesa were next up, both competing on the back of poor performances in Brazil. Tomas Enge was one of only two drivers to improve their times in the second session, after running on slick tyres in the first session - he took seventh. Enrico Toccacelo, Patrick Friesacher and Ricardo Mauricio completed the top ten.
Bourdais got the best start and began to build a lead over Sperafico, as Pizzonia shot passed Pantano at the start to take third. Despite Sperafico's best efforts he could not make a move on Bourdais, but behind, positions were changing almost by the lap as Pizzonia, Pantano and Enge fought over third. The latter could not hold the pace and dropped back to fifth, only to succumb from pressure from Patrick Friesacher and drop to sixth late on.
Bourdais claimed the victory by just over a second from Sperafico, while Pantano emerged victorious from his battle with Pizzonia. Friesacher took fifth from Enge, with the increasing impressive rookie Bjorn Wirdheim in seventh. Nicolas Kiesa, Zsolt Baumgartner and Tiago Monterio completed the top ten. Rodrigo Sperafico's brother Ricardo finished one lap down in 14th after a clash with Ryan Briscoe, while the third Sperafico, Alex - cousin of Rodrigo and Ricardo - took 15th. Mario Haberfeld, who took second in Brazil, was forced out after a clash with David Saelens.
Race Result:
1. Sebastien Bourdais
2. Rodrigo Sperafico +1.065s
3. Giorgio Pantano +12.641s
4. Antonio Pizzonia +17.206s
5. Patrick Friesacher +17.938s
6. Tomas Enge +24.112s
Championship Standings:
1. Rodrigo Sperafico 16pts
2. Sebastien Bourdais 10pts
3. Mario Haberfeld 6pts
4. Antonio Pizzonia 6pts
5. Giorgio Pantano 4pts
6. Ricardo Mauricio 4pts
7. Bjorn Wirdheim 2pts
8. Patrick Friesacher 2pts
9. Enrico Toccacelo 1pt
10. Tomas Enge 1pt
2002 F3000 season calendar
30/03/2002 - Sao Paulo
- Brazil grid by JR
- Brazil review by AF
- Brazil lap-by-lap by JR
13/04/2002 - Imola
- San Marino grid by JR
- San Marino review by AF
- San Marino lap-by-lap by JR
27/04/2002 - Barcelona
- Spain grid by JR
- Spain review by AF
- Spain lap-by-lap by JR
11/05/2002 - Spielberg
- Austria grid by JR
- Austria review by AF
- Austria lap-by-lap by JR
25/05/2002 - Monaco
- Monaco grid by JR
- Monaco review by AF
- Monaco lap-by-lap by JR
22/06/2002 - Nürburgring
- Europe grid by JR
- Europe review by AF
- Europe lap-by-lap by JR
06/07/2002 - Silverstone
- Britain grid by JR
- Britain review by AF
- Britain lap-by-lap by JR
20/07/2002 - Magny-Cours
- France grid by JR
- France review by AF
- France lap-by-lap by JR
27/07/2002 - Hockenheim
- Germany circuit by JR
- Germany grid by JR
- Germany review by AF
17/08/2002 - Hungaroring
- Hungary circuit by JR
- Hungary grid by JR
- Hungary lap-by-lap by JR
31/08/2002 - Spa Francorchamps
- Belgium grid by JR
- Belgium review by AF
- Belgium lap-by-lap by JR
14/09/2002 - Monza
- Italy grid by JR
- Italy review by AF
- Italy lap-by-lap by JR
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