International Formula 3000 Championship 2002 - Race 5, Monte Carlo.

Patrick Friesacher 2nd! First podium position for the Red Bull Junior - in
Monte Carlo! "Monaco is the perfect place to grab a podium position and I am more than happy! It really is a great result for me! And actually, I could get used to it!"

Ricardo Mauricio finished 8th today, after a brace race! 

Result: 1. Sebastien BOURDAIS in front of PATRICK FRIESACHER and TOMAS ENGE!


The top event of this year's Formula 3000 season, the 35-lap race classic of Monaco ended with a great second place for Patrick Friesacher - the young driver from Carinthia having his best result ever since he has been driving for the Red Bull Junior team. 

Starting from 3rd position, Patrick was able to hold this position after the start, staying behind pole man Sebastien Bourdais (Fra) and Rodrigo Sperafico (Bra). 

After lap 7, Bourdais was 1.7 seconds in front of Sperafico, who again was 1.6 seconds in front of Patrick Friesacher. Suddenly then, Sperafico was not there any more and Friesacher was second. 

Enrico Toccacelo tried to put the Austrian under pressure afterwards - luckily without success though: In the 20th lap the Italian was out - as were 12 more Formula 3000 drivers! 

After a bit more than one hour, the result was official: Sebastien Bourdais first, in front of Patrick Friesacher and Tomas Enge!
Patrick Friesacher: "I am extremely happy about my first podium position - especially here in Monte Carlo it is simply a great result! Although I was not able to catch up one position right away, and although there was actually no possibility to overtake during the race, Rodrigo then fell out - and up from then it was not that difficult anymore to hold my position!"


Team mate Ricardo Mauricio, who started from 12th position, managed to be on
7th position in the 10th lap already - also due to the fact that both David Saelens and Giorgio Pantano fell out. 

10 laps before the end of the race Mauricio was already about to make points (Toccacelo being out) and was put under a lot of pressure by the German Alex Müller.

In the last lap, Müller then touched Mauricio in the Rascasse, Mauricio thus ending up in the planks. The race directors are currently dealing with that fact, but the Brazilian was ranked 8th. 

Ricardo Mauricio: "That was not really nice of Alex Müller - even though I was slower than him. It is okay to fight with fair means. It's a pity it didn't work out, but I am happy Patrick made it to the podium for the first time!"

F3000 Championship 2002 - Monte Carlo, race 5 

1. Sebastien BOURDAIS Fra SuperNova 
2. Patrick FRIESACHER Aut Red Bull Junior Team 
3. Tomas ENGE Cze Arden 
4. Antonio PIZZONIA Bra Petrobras Jr. 
5. Ricardo SPERAFICO Bra Petrobras Jr. 
6. Alex Müller D Durango 

Overall-Standing:
1. Sebastien BOURDAIS Fra SuperNova 24
2. Tomas ENGE Cze Arden 21
3. Giorgio PANTANO Ita Coloni 17
4. Rodrigo SPERAFICO Bra Benetton Durango 16 
5. Mario HABERFELD Bra Astromega 12
6. Patrick FRIESACHER Aut Red Bull Junior Team 10
7. Antonio PIZZONIA Bra Petrobras Jr. 9
8. Ricardo MAURICIO Aut Red Bull Junior Team 7

More: www.redbull-juniorteam.com, www.redbull-f3000.com Red Bull Junior Team F3000 –  Media, Thomas Blazek, beta Communications, Enzersdorferstrasse 6/2/2, A-2340 Mödling. Tel.: +43 2236 24744, +43 664 300 50 40,  Fax: +43 2236 893 628, E-Mail: blazek@betacom.at