Raikkonen, Barrichello face fresh enquiry ( 2003-08-22 09:28) (Agencies)
Race stewards will quiz McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari's Rubens
Barrichello on Friday about a first-lap collision at this month's Hockenheim
Grand Prix.
The sport's ruling body, FIA, said the stewards who presided over the German
race would talk to the drivers at the Hungaroring, venue of Sunday's Hungarian
Grand Prix.
Ralf Schumacher makes a phone call prior to the Hungarian
Grand Prix August 21.
The meeting has been called following the FIA's decision to water down the
penalty imposed on Williams's Ralf Schumacher, who was initially blamed by the
stewards for the crash.
The FIA imposed a fine of $50,000 on Wednesday instead of the original
penalty, which would have meant Schumacher dropping 10 positions from his
qualifying spot at the start of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
All three drivers appeared at a news conference at the Hungaroring on
Thursday, with Ralf saying he was happy with the outcome and still considered it
a racing incident.
"It was a very new experience and hopefully last in my Formula One career but
it was very well dealt with," he said of his appeal hearing in Paris on Tuesday.
All said the incident would have no influence on how they approached Sunday's
race.
"I am going to race as hard as ever," said Raikkonen. "It's just one of those
things that happens and hopefully it won't happen again
"I have said everything that I know and there's not much else to say," he
added of Friday's hearing. "Let's see what happens. It's a bit weird but they
made their decision already. I'm not really worried about it."
IN SANDWICH
Barrichello added: "Tomorrow we have another meeting to put our views.
Unfortunately I was in the middle of a sandwich and that was pretty much it."
Schumacher, younger brother of world champion Michael, collided with
Raikkonen and Barrichello as the three cars left the grid at the start on August
3.
The FIA said they would ask the stewards to investigate the roles of
Finland's Raikkonen and Brazilian Barrichello in the first-lap collision
following data from accident recorders given to Tuesday's appeal hearing.
Schumacher appealed against his penalty, saying
the crash was not his fault. Immediately after the race Williams said they did
not believe their driver was totally to blame for the collision.
Ralf left open the question of who would pay the fine.
"I have a meeting later on with Frank (Williams) so I'll speak about that,"
he said.
