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GRAND PRIX : Austria : McLarens Fight Back
Spielberg, Sunday 26th July
Michael Schumacher: third, 71 laps, at 39.093s, chassis 188
Eddie Irvine: fourth, 71 laps, at 43.977s, chassis 185
Temperatures: air 27 C, track 50 C
Schumacher moved up to second place at the end of the first lap, while Eddie was sixth. Michael went off on lap 17 and pitted on lap 18 to have a new nose fitted. He rejoined in 16th place. Irvine was fifth on lap 8, then fourth and on lap 23 he was second. On lap 27 Eddie pitted and dropped behind Coulthard. Michael made his second stop on lap 42, when he was fifth. On lap 52 Eddie made his second stop when lying third. Lap 55 saw Michael move up to fourth. On lap 68 he passed Eddie, who was fighting brake problems and took third place.
Jean Todt
"In order to fight for first place, Michael, who was on a two stop strategy, absolutely had to pass Hakkinen and so he was driving right on the limit. The car was damaged when he went off and was repaired in the pits. He then climbed up through the field from last place to get onto the podium. After a good start, Eddie drove an attacking race. He had brake problems in the final stages and we warned him of this. For that reason, he did not take unnecessary risks in keeping his team-mate behind him. The championship is still very open and we have picked up seven points. We know our main opposition is very strong, but we will not give up the fight."
Michael Schumacher
"This was an extraordinary race. Considering what happened to me I could not have expected to walk away with four points, so I am extremely satisfied. As for my accident, I lost control as I was going too quickly, went wide on the dirt and I could not keep it on the track. It was a stupid mistake. As the car jumped through the gravel and I lost my front wing, I thought there was more damage, but the car proved to be very strong. Once again the team did a great job in the pits and for this I thank my engineers and mechanics. The car felt okay and I could do quick laps and I began to pick up places. All the drivers I passed were very fair. I had a good battle with my brother, who drove a very good race. Towards the end, Eddie and I both had brake problems so we had to back off a bit."
Eddie Irvine
"This morning I had trouble with the clutch, so we changed it. But the problem reoccurred at the start, so I had to dump the clutch. I had a lot of wheelspin but still got away quite well. Alesi let me through quite easily and Barrichello went out so that made my life simpler. I chased Fisichella and got the gap down to four seconds. Unfortunately, I then lost a few seconds behind Michael when he had lost his nose. Brake wear had been critical through the race and I was told to ease off, which is how Michael caught me. Once he got past I pushed again for a couple of laps as Ralf was behind me but the team again told me to back off."
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