a sortie. I'm doing the same for a recent race with the new and improved F1
2001. This was easily the most exciting, engrossing, immersive and
satisfying racing experience of my life and I wanted to share it.
There I was . . . at Monaco, starting from the 8th position in the red hot
Ferrari. Ready to run a 19 lap race (30%) against a full field of cars.
Other than early congestion and contact around Sainte Devote and the Grand
Hotel Hairpin, the first 2 laps were uneventful. As the field spread out, I
found myself maintaining my 8th position, several seconds behind Frentzen
and about the same time gap ahead of Montoya. After about 3 more laps I
noticed the time gap, called by my crew, between myself and Montoya
narrowing quickly. As I completed lap 5, an unfriendly visitor was
approaching rapidly in my mirrors. Montoya had closed the gap impressively
and was hot on my tail.
Over the next 3 laps, my hands started to sweat as Montoya patiently waited
for me to make a rookie mistake and give up my position. His patience paid
off. It must have been lap 8 when I approached the *** turn a bit fast
and the rear end began sliding as I entered the turn. As I slowed down to
catch the back of my car, Montoya quickly passed to my left. Luckily,
overtaking so wide caused him to oversteer as he tried to cut back into a
late apex. He lost his rear end a bit and had to slow to catch it. This
gave me a chance to jump back into 8th position as we approached Mirabeau.
Although we were both a bit shaken, his resolve to overtake remained. He
quickly regained his exposure and was right on my tail for the next few laps
. . . until valor got the better part of judgment for Montoya during the
unlucky lap 11. Montoya was consistently faster through Nouvelle Chicane
and Tabac. It appeared he thought he could out brake me either through
Tabac or at the end of Piscine. During lap 11, he made his move.
After Nouvelle Chicane, he was practically touching my rear wing. He moved
to the inside a bit (my left), trying to out brake me into Tabac. I closed
the door quickly but he was still right on my tail exiting the turn. He was
very fast through the chicane at Piscine and picked the next right turn to
try and out brake me on the inside (my right). This was an excellent choice
since Piscine is my weakest section on the track. I consistently slide
through the right turn portion of the chicane, setting myself up poorly for
the quick right and left turns before Rascasse.
Although he picked the optimal place to pass me, he failed in execution. As
we entered the right-hander almost side by side, his inside pass attempt
failed when he clipped the rail with his right rear tire, spinning himself
around 180 degrees. I wiped the sweat from my brow after this close call,
and set my sites on Frentzen who only 2 seconds ahead in 6th position (I was
now in 7th because someone ahead of Frentzen and I spun at Nouvelle
Chicane).
Frentzen and I had an interesting duel as well. Unlike Montoya, who was
faster from the tunnel to the start/finish line, Frentzen was faster from
Anthony Noghes to Mirabeau. It was now lap 12 and I was running some of my
fastest laps of the race (for me a 1:30.XX using the stock set-up, not very
fast for the rest of the world) and caught Frentzen by lap 14 or 15. I was
right on his tail through the Tunnel and remained there through Piscine (my
weak spot). I'd catch him again into Rascasse, and he'd extend his lead a
bit starting up Beau Rivage and down into Mirabeau. We continued this
pattern for the next few laps. This was just as exciting as the duel with
Montoya, except I was not nearly as nervous as the predator.
We both moved up one place due to another car dropping out, this time due to
a crash (where I deftly avoided the damaged car which was facing the wrong
way as I exited Tabac). I knew I had to pass soon to take 5th place, since
the race was soon coming to a close. I picked my fastest spot, Nouvelle
Chicane, to make my move. I was faster through the tunnel and thought I
could out brake Frentzen on the inside (his left) entering the chicane. It
was now lap 17 and time to take a chance.
I took Portier particularly well, and came speeding through the tunnel ready
to out brake at Nouvelle Chicane. I faked a move to his outside (just in
case he was ready block me on the inside) causing him to move right, I then
dove inside out braking him and passing him entering the chicane. I was
thrilled at the chance of a top 5 finish. Sadly, my exhilaration was short
lived. I gave the position right back after sloppy driving through Tabac.
I lost the rear-end a bit exiting the turn, once again failing to properly
set-up the Piscine chicane. My weakest section of track bit me in the ass
again! As Frentzen passed, I straightened my car and began my final 2 laps.
My misstep allowed Coulthard to catch me and almost pass. I barely held him
off and took 6th place in the race.
This was pure racing e***ment.
--
Joe Marques