ROME, 18 June 2003 — Ferrari’s five-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher said yesterday he deserved to be back on top of the drivers’ championship.
The 34-year-old German ace rose to the summit for the first time this season following Sunday’s victory at the Canadian Grand Prix.Schumacher’s fourth win of the season and 68th of his career took him three points clear of McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen, who finished sixth.
“It was a really important race for us and the win was crucial. Now we head both (driver and constructor) championships and in my opinion this is only right,” Schumacher was quoted as saying on Ferrari’s official website.
“I have won four races and Kimi only one. It seems quite odd that with these results only three points divide us. But this is the natural consequence of the new regulations that were introduced for precisely this reason. In any case, we are ahead and this really pleases me.” Schumacher said victory in Montreal was particularly pleasing because he had to overcome brake wear problems. “I was in constant touch with the mechanics to ask how much I could push it and how sharply I could brake; I had to be very careful otherwise I wouldn’t have made it to the checkered flag,” he added.
“Now we have to go on working as we have done. Our guys have been great in putting together a superb engine. It will be hard but now we in a good position to push for the title.”
CART Series Seeks
Possible Buy Out
In Indianapolis, Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc, the sanctioning body for the CART series, confirmed on Monday that it was seeking a buyer for the embattled open wheel racing series.
In a statement released by its chief financial officer Thomas L. Carter, it said: “The company’s management strongly believes in the long range future of the company.
“However, in light of the financial challenges facing the company; the company has retained the investment banking firm of Bear Stearns & Company, Inc. to assist us in exploring strategic alternatives that may be available to CART; including a possible sale of the company.”
