Monday, August 19, 2002
Da Matta returns to winning ways
Barrichello earns F-1 title for Ferrari
The Associated Press
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. - Cristiano da Matta returned to form Sunday, ending a three-race slump with a victory in the Motorola 220.
The CART series leader won for the first time on the scenic 4-mile road course at Road America, earning his sixth win in 12 starts this season and the 10th of his career.
“It's very satisfying, because we had a couple of bad races together, and it's very rewarding to be back in first place,” da Matta said.
It wasn't a dominant victory, like some the Brazilian driver has had this season. Paul Tracy actually led the most laps (24) in the race, which was extended this year from 55 to 60 laps, and pole-winner Bruno Junqueira and Alex Tagliani both were contenders to the end.
Tracy, who started fourth in the 18-car field, got a great start and passed Junqueira on the fifth turn of the first lap to take the lead. He led easily until making his first pit stop on lap 25, building margins of up to 2.3 seconds.
Junqueira inherited the lead and stayed in front until he pitted on lap 39. Da Matta, who had been lurking near the leaders throughout the early going, took the lead at that point and never lost it.
“Before the race, I sat down with my engineer and my crew and decided we really need to finish the race,” da Matta said. “Anything we could bring home today better than fifth would be good.”
FORMULA ONE: Rubens Barrichello wasn't about to surrender his lead in the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Barrichello edged teammate Michael Schumacher in Budapest, and their 1-2 finish allowed Ferrari to clinch the Formula One team title with four races left in the season.
Barrichello, starting from the pole, cruised to his second victory of the season and third of his career.
At the Austrian GP in May, Barrichello obeyed team orders and moved over on the final straightaway to let Schumacher take the checkered flag. This time, the Brazilian driver protected his lead on the tight 2.47-mile Hungaroring circuit.
“We had the best car out there, it was just a matter of bringing it home,” Barrichello said. “Winning 1-2 is just great.”
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Da Matta returns to winning ways
