Bold gamble fails for Barrichello ** Spoiler **

http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=43971

Rubens Barrichello said it was worth taking a risk after Honda’s bold gamble to put him onto dry-weather failed to pay off in the Italian Grand Prix.

The Brackley-based squad had been at the back of the field all weekend, so decided to call Barrichello in for a switch to ‘slicks’ at his final pit stop.

The decision proved premature as the track was still too wet for the shallow-grooved rubber – but Barrichello reckoned it had been worth a punt.

“The wet tyres worked well in the middle stint but when I came up to my second stop with 10 laps to go, the team asked if it was dry enough for slicks,” said the Brazilian, who finished a lap down in 17th place.

“It was not quite dry enough but they asked me to give it a go as we had nothing to lose.

“I tried my best but it was definitely too wet.

“We could have finished higher up by sticking to the wets but it was worth trying something different.

“It's been a tough weekend all round.”


Team principal Ross Brawn admitted it was a low-percentage ploy, but given Honda’s lack of pace he felt it had nothing to lose.

“From where we started the race and in view of the lack of attrition today, it was necessary for us to take some chances,” he said.

“We switched from the extreme wet tyres to the normal wets earlier than everyone else and I believe that was a reasonable call.

“Later in the race, at Rubens's second pit stop, we knew it wasn't really the right window for dry tyres but we thought it might be worth a chance.”

Jenson Button had described his car as “undrivable” after qualifying a lowly 19th and the team made major set-up changes prior to the race.

The Briton found the RA108 handled better in the race, but was unable to make much progress up the lap chart.

“We decided to start the race from the pit lane today as it may have given us an advantage with tyre choice,” he said.

“However when the race started behind the safety car it just meant that my tyres and brakes were very cold.

“The first couple of laps were quite difficult with the amount of spray and I lost a place, which was disappointing.

“Then I got stuck behind [David] Coulthard in the middle of the race when my lap times were good, which compromised my race quite badly.

“The last stint was a lot of fun though as we left the very worn wet tyres on and I had a couple of purple middle sectors.

“But at the end of the day it was disappointing to come home in 15th position and we have not had a good weekend here.”

Brawn added: “Jenson had a good race and we made the right tyre calls at the right time.

“He was looking pretty quick at the end but obviously starting as far back as he did, he didn't have much opportunity for points today.

“On a positive note the car looked a little more respectable in the race than it has through the weekend.”

 

RB wasn't doing anything anyway, he might as well try a long shot.

 

Ah. That makes a lot more sense than what SpeedTV reported, which was that he had changed to full wets during that stop.