MILAN, 10 June 2003 — Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher will stay at Ferrari until the end of the 2006 season, the Italian team said yesterday.
Ferrari also said that the technical team that has been behind Schumacher’s three straight world titles, including sporting director Jean Todt, would remain in place until 2006. The move ensures that the team who have dominated the sport for the past three years will be together for at least three more seasons. Five-time world champion Schumacher’s existing deal was due to expire at the end of the 2004 season.
“Ferrari announces that Jean Todt will continue in his role as managing director of the Gestione Sportiva (team) until the end of 2006,” the team said in a statement.
“Also continuing to report to him up to that date will be Technical Director Ross Brawn, Engine Director Paolo Martinelli, Chief Designer Rory Byrne and head of engine design Gilles Simon.
“Furthermore, Ferrari announces that it has extended its agreement with the driver Michael Schumacher to the end of the 2006 season,” added the statement.
Schumacher, who won two titles with Benetton, is the most successful driver in Ferrari’s history and took his third successive world title last year with six races to spare. He has a record 67 career wins.
NASCAR Champion Stewart
Wins in Pennsylvania
In Long Pond, Pennsylvania, Tony Stewart again showed his liking for the month of June by winning the Pennsylvania 500 at the Pocono International Raceway on Sunday.
It was the fifth victory, out of a career total of 16, in June for NASCAR’s reigning champion.
Stewart, driving a Chevrolet, finished ahead of the Fords of Mark Martin and Matt Kenseth, and the Chevrolet of Dale Earnhardt Jr. The win was Stewart’s first since he triumphed at Watkins Glen, New York, last August.
Stewart, who drives for triple Super Bowl-winning coach Joe Gibbs, was competitive earlier this season but the results did not show it. The race started with two dramatic crashes. On lap eight, Ken Schrader flipped over, his car caught fire but he escaped injury. Then, on lap 55, former Winston Cup champion Dale Jarrett had a blown tire, sending his car out of control.
