2004 Italian Grand Prix

The 2004 Italian Grand Prix, officially the LXXV Gran Premio Vodafone d'Italia 2004, was race number fifteen of the FIA Formula One World Championship, which took place at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Monza, Italy, on 12 September 2004.'Italian GP 2004: Barrichello leads celebrations.', crash.net, (Crash Media Group, 12/09/2004), https://www.crash.net/f1/race-report/50037/1/italian-gp-2004-barrichello-leads-celebrations, (Accessed 24/12/2019) The race would see Rubens Barrichello sweep to victory ahead of teammate Michael Schumacher, and hence led a one-two in their 700th Grand Prix as a factory team.
It would be a record breaking three days in Monza, with pre-qualifying seeing Juan Pablo Montoya set the fastest ever average lap speed for a flying lap at 262.242 km/h (162.900 mph). However, the Colombian racer would be beaten to pole position by Barrichello in full qualifying, while newly re-crowned Champion Schumacher would start from third alongside Fernando Alonso.
Rain on race morning would cause some confusion, with the track still damp in places ahead of the start. Most of the field would, however, opt for their usual grooved slick tyres, although Barrichello, David Coulthard and Felipe Massa decided to use intermediates instead.
That proved to be the wrong move for Coulthard, with the Scot diving into the pits at the end of the formation lap. Barrichello, meanwhile, would ace his start to claim an early lead from a flying Alonso, knowing that he would have to maximise his low fuel setup to remain in the fight for victory.
Behind, Schumacher would battle with Montoya for third into the Rettifilo, only to run onto the concrete and cut the chicane. He duly handed the position back but also lost out to Kimi Räikkönen, before Antônio Pizzonia tipped him into a spin at the second chicane, sending the German ace down to fifteenth.
Barrichello would break away in the early laps, although a sudden jump in track and tyre temperatures allowed Alonso to catch and pass the #2 Ferrari moments before Barrichello swept into the pits. Jenson Button, meanwhile, was the man to watch as he challenged the new race leader, while Schumacher was back in the top ten, but behind Barrichello after the Brazilian's stop.
Alonso bailed five laps later to hand the lead to Button, whose tyres faded badly in the final laps of his stint to leave him at the head of a queue of cars. He would, however, hang on to be one of the last stoppers, and would rejoin without losing the lead as Barrichello, on a very high fuel load, was mugged by the pack behind.
The middle stint saw Button just hang on to his lead, with the Brit running too much wing to escape from the pack. Schumacher, meanwhile, would move up the order during the second stint with his Bridgestones enjoying the improving conditions, and would become a major contender for victory after the second round of stops.
Indeed, after disposing of Takuma Sato for fourth after his second stop, Schumacher would inherit second when Alonso spun into the gravel at the second chicane. Button then fell to the charging #1 Ferrari, sending the tifosi into rapturous cheers, while Barrichello made his second and final stop from the lead, rejoining ahead of the fight.
Team orders came into play from that moment on, with Barrichello and Schumacher holding station to claim a one-two for Ferrari, and a rare victory for the Brazilian. Button was third having remained too much of a threat for the Ferraris to fight, with Sato, Montoya, Coulthard, Pizzonia and Giancarlo Fisichella completing the scorers.
==Background==
The FIA Formula One World Championship was over with four races to go after the Belgian Grand Prix, for Michael Schumacher had built an unassailable lead of 40 points. Indeed, while Rubens Barrichello could mathematically match his German teammate's 128 point tally, the Brazilian would miss-out on countback courtesy of Schumacher's twelve victories. Barrichello would hence spend the rest of the campaign fighting to hold second, and would leave Belgium with a 23 point advantage over Jenson Button.
In the Constructors Championship had once again extended their title winning tally, moving onto 216 points. It was status quo behind as , and all failed to score, with Williams running out of time to catch their former engine partners. Indeed, had closed onto the back of their Anglo-German rivals, with just five points splitting the pair.
===Entry list===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Michael Schumacher 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F2004 	 	053 3.0 V10 	
2 	Rubens Barrichello 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F2004 	 	053 3.0 V10 	
3 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	BMW Williams F1 Team 	 	FW26 	 	P84 3.0 V10 	
4 	Antônio Pizzonia 	BMW Williams F1 Team 	 	FW26 	 	P84 3.0 V10 	
5 	David Coulthard 	West McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-19B 	 	FO 110Q 3.0 V10 	
6 	Kimi Räikkönen 	West McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-19B 	 	FO 110Q 3.0 V10 	
7 	Jarno Trulli 	Mild Seven Renault F1 Team 	 	R24 	 	RS24 3.0 V10 	
8 	Fernando Alonso 	Mild Seven Renault F1 Team 	 	R24 	 	RS24 3.0 V10 	
9 	Jenson Button 	Lucky Strike BAR Honda 	 	006 	 	RA004E 3.0 V10 	
10 	Takuma Sato 	Lucky Strike BAR Honda 	 	006 	 	RA004E 3.0 V10 	
11 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	Sauber Petronas 	 	C23 	 	04A 3.0 V10 	
12 	Felipe Massa 	Sauber Petronas 	 	C23 	 	04A 3.0 V10 	
14 	Mark Webber 	Jaguar Racing 	 	R5 	 	CR-6 3.0 V10 	
15 	Christian Klien 	Jaguar Racing 	 	R5 	 	CR-6 3.0 V10 	
16 	Ricardo Zonta 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF104B 	 	RVX-04 3.0 V10 	
17 	Olivier Panis 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF104B 	 	RVX-04 3.0 V10 	
18 	Nick Heidfeld 	Jordan Ford 	 	EJ14 	 	RS2 3.0 V10 	
19 	Giorgio Pantano 	Jordan Ford 	 	EJ14 	 	RS2 3.0 V10 	
20 	Gianmaria Bruni 	Minardi Cosworth 	 	PS04B 	 	CR-3L 3.0 V10 	
21 	Zsolt Baumgartner 	Minardi Cosworth 	 	PS04B 	 	CR-3L 3.0 V10 	
Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only
35 	Anthony Davidson 	Lucky Strike BAR Honda 	 	006 	 	RA004E 3.0 V10 	
37 	Björn Wirdheim 	Jaguar Racing 	 	R5 	 	CR-6 3.0 V10 	
38 	Ryan Briscoe 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF104 	 	RVX-04 3.0 V10 	
39 	Timo Glock 	Jordan Ford 	 	EJ14 	 	RS2 3.0 V10 	
40 	Bas Leinders 	Minardi Cosworth 	 	PS04B 	 	CR-3L 3.0 V10 	
Source:'Italy 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 24/12/2019)	Source:'Italy 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 24/12/2019)	Source:'Italy 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 24/12/2019)	Source:'Italy 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 24/12/2019)	Source:'Italy 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 24/12/2019)	Source:'Italy 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 24/12/2019)	Source:'Italy 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 24/12/2019)	Source:'Italy 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 24/12/2019)
==Practice Overview==
==Qualifying==
===Q1 Report===
===Q2 Report===
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Time 	Time 	Gap
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Q1 	Q2 	Gap
1 	2 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	1:20.552 	1:20.089 	—
2 	3 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	 	1:19.525 	1:20.620 	+0.531s
3 	1 	Michael Schumacher 	 	1:20.528 	1:20.637 	+0.548s
4 	8 	Fernando Alonso 	 	1:20.341 	1:20.645 	+0.556s
5 	10 	Takuma Sato 	 	1:19.733 	1:20.715 	+0.626s
6 	9 	Jenson Button 	 	1:19.856 	1:20.786 	+0.697s
7 	6 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	1:20.501 	1:20.877 	+0.788s
8 	4 	Antônio Pizzonia 	 	1:19.671 	1:20.888 	+0.799s
9 	7 	Jarno Trulli 	 	1:21.011 	1:21.027 	+0.938s
10 	5 	David Coulthard 	 	1:20.414 	1:21.049 	+0.960s
11 	16 	Ricardo Zonta 	 	1:21.829 	1:21.520 	+1.431s
12 	14 	Mark Webber 	 	1:21.783 	1:21.602 	+1.513s
13 	17 	Olivier Panis 	 	1:22.169 	1:21.841 	+1.752s
14 	15 	Christian Klien 	 	1:22.114 	1:21.989 	+1.900s
15 	11 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	1:20.357 	1:22.239 	+2.150s
16 	12 	Felipe Massa 	 	1:20.571 	1:22.287 	+2.198s
17* 	18 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	— 	1:22.301 	+2.212s
18 	19 	Giorgio Pantano 	 	1:23.264 	1:23.239 	+3.150s
19 	21 	Zsolt Baumgartner 	 	1:25.082 	1:24.808 	+4.719s
20 	20 	Gianmaria Bruni 	 	1:23.963 	1:24.910 	+4.821s
Source:'FORMULA 1™ Gran Premio Vodafone d'Italia 2004 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/767/italy/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 24/12/2019)'FORMULA 1™ Gran Premio Vodafone d'Italia 2004 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/767/italy/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 24/12/2019)'Italy 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 24/12/2019)	Source:'FORMULA 1™ Gran Premio Vodafone d'Italia 2004 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/767/italy/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 24/12/2019)'FORMULA 1™ Gran Premio Vodafone d'Italia 2004 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/767/italy/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 24/12/2019)'Italy 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 24/12/2019)	Source:'FORMULA 1™ Gran Premio Vodafone d'Italia 2004 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/767/italy/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 24/12/2019)'FORMULA 1™ Gran Premio Vodafone d'Italia 2004 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/767/italy/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 24/12/2019)'Italy 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 24/12/2019)	Source:'FORMULA 1™ Gran Premio Vodafone d'Italia 2004 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/767/italy/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 24/12/2019)'FORMULA 1™ Gran Premio Vodafone d'Italia 2004 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/767/italy/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 24/12/2019)'Italy 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 24/12/2019)	Source:'FORMULA 1™ Gran Premio Vodafone d'Italia 2004 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/767/italy/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 24/12/2019)'FORMULA 1™ Gran Premio Vodafone d'Italia 2004 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/767/italy/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 24/12/2019)'Italy 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 24/12/2019)	Source:'FORMULA 1™ Gran Premio Vodafone d'Italia 2004 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/767/italy/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 24/12/2019)'FORMULA 1™ Gran Premio Vodafone d'Italia 2004 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/767/italy/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 24/12/2019)'Italy 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 24/12/2019)	Source:'FORMULA 1™ Gran Premio Vodafone d'Italia 2004 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/767/italy/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 24/12/2019)'FORMULA 1™ Gran Premio Vodafone d'Italia 2004 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/767/italy/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 24/12/2019)'Italy 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 24/12/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car to set their best time in that session.
*Bold indicates a driver's best/qualifying time.
** Heidfeld was handed a ten place grid penalty for changing his engine.
===Grid===
** Coulthard and Heidfeld would start the race from the pitlane.
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	2 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	53 	1:15:18.448 	1 	10
2 	1 	Michael Schumacher 	 	53 	+1.347s 	3 	8
3 	9 	Jenson Button 	 	53 	+10.197s 	6 	6
4 	10 	Takuma Sato 	 	53 	+15.370s 	5 	5
5 	3 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	 	53 	+32.352s 	2 	4
6 	5 	David Coulthard 	 	53 	+33.439s 	10 	3
7 	4 	Antônio Pizzonia 	 	53 	+33.752s 	8 	2
8 	11 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	53 	+35.431s 	15 	1
9 	14 	Mark Webber 	 	53 	+56.761s 	12 	
10 	7 	Jarno Trulli 	 	53 	+1:06.316 	9 	
11 	16 	Ricardo Zonta 	 	53 	+1:22.531 	11 	
12 	12 	Felipe Massa 	 	52 	+1 Lap 	16 	
13 	15 	Christian Klien 	 	52 	+1 Lap 	14 	
14 	18 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	52 	+1 Lap 	20 	
15 	21 	Zsolt Baumgartner 	 	50 	+3 Laps 	19 	
Ret 	8 	Fernando Alonso 	 	40 	Spin 	4 	
Ret 	19 	Giorgio Pantano 	 	33 	Accident 	17 	
Ret 	20 	Gianmaria Bruni 	 	29 	Fire 	18 	
Ret 	6 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	13 	Water leak 	7 	
Ret 	17 	Olivier Panis 	 	0 	Collision 	13 	
Source:'Italy 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 24/12/2019)	Source:'Italy 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 24/12/2019)	Source:'Italy 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 24/12/2019)	Source:'Italy 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 24/12/2019)	Source:'Italy 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 24/12/2019)	Source:'Italy 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 24/12/2019)	Source:'Italy 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 24/12/2019)	Source:'Italy 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 24/12/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
==Milestones==
* Rubens Barrichello secured the 175th pole position for a chassis and engine.'15. Italy 2004', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/italie.aspx, (Accessed 24/12/2019)
* Barrichello scored his eighth career victory.
* Ferrari secured their 180th win as a constructor and engine supplier.
* Michael Schumacher set a new record for most second place finishes - 36.'2004 Italian GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=2004&gp=Italian%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 24/12/2019)
==Standings==
Michael Schumacher had seen his lead in the Championship cut for the first time since he crashed out in Monte Carlo, although he had already claimed the crown. Indeed, race winner Rubens Barrichello had closed the gap to 38 points, but with three races to go was unable to challenge his teammate. He had, however, all but sealed the runner-up spot, needing to outscore Jenson Button by four points across the remaining races.
In the Constructors Championship continued their record points haul chase, leaving their home race on 234 points. , meanwhile, had overhauled to claim second place as the European season drew to a close, moving three ahead of the French squad. , meanwhile, were set to fall out of the fight for second, and had only just kept at bay for fourth.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Michael Schumacher 	136 	
2 	Rubens Barrichello 	98 	
3 	Jenson Button 	71 	
4 	Jarno Trulli 	46 	
5 	Fernando Alonso 	45 	
6 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	42 	
7 	Kimi Räikkönen 	28 	
8 	David Coulthard 	24 	
9 	Takuma Sato 	23 	
10 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	19 	
11 	Ralf Schumacher 	12 	
12 	Felipe Massa 	10 	
13 	Mark Webber 	7 	
14 	Olivier Panis 	6 	
15 	Antônio Pizzonia 	6 	
16 	Christian Klien 	3 	
17 	Cristiano da Matta 	3 	
18 	Nick Heidfeld 	3 	
19 	Timo Glock 	2 	
20 	Zsolt Baumgartner 	1 	
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	234 	
2 	 	94 	1
3 	 	91 	1
4 	 	60 	
5 	 	52 	
6 	 	29 	
7 	 	10 	
8 	 	9 	
9 	 	5 	
10 	 	1 	
Only point scoring drivers are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
*
References:
es:Gran Premio de Italia de 2004
Category:Italian Grand Prix
Category:2004 Grands Prix
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:Formula One races in Italy