Accord

KR was having a fantastic race, but with only 4 laps to go he locked up and overshot the first hairpin turn and MS used that as an opportunity and overtook KR.

I was really hoping KR would take it, but oh well . MS secured his 5th world championship by winning this GP, and has tied Fangios record standing 45 years.

Both McLarens were on the podium with DC in third.

In the press conference, KR said this is the most disapointing race of his career. I think MS handled himself very well in the press conference, not boasting about his win, infact congratulating KR on a fantastic race, mainly because if KR did not lockup, it would have been his win.

The German GP is only one week away, i'm sure it will be one of the most relaxed grand prix's in a while for Ferrari. The German GP should be extremely interesting seeing as though nearly half the track has been redone.

Accord

Here is the race report from F1.com:

Michael Schumacher won the 2002 French Grand Prix and his fifth FIA
Formula One World Championship in dramatic fashion, and now equals Juan
Manuel Fangio's record of title victories. The German regained the lead
of today's race with just five laps remaining, after having dropped from
first to third when he was hit with a drive-through penalty for crossing
the line separating the pit exit from the track after his first pit
stop. Kimi Raikkonen went on to lead his first Grand Prix until a
mistake under yellow flags saw him lock a wheel at the scene of Allan
McNish's spin allowing the German back in front. The disappointed Finn
went on to finish second with David Coulthard third, another recipient
of a drive-through penalty for crossing the pit exit line too early.
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines02/07/s10109.html

Juan Pablo Montoya finished fourth after a longer second stop and what
looked like handling difficulties on his Williams and his team mate Ralf
Schumacher was fifth, another driver who was handed a drive-through
penalty for crossing the pit lane demarcation line. Jenson Button
scooped up the final remaining point to finish sixth on the weekend that
Renault announced he would not be with the team next year.
http://www.formula1.com/races/racene...ceresults.html

Nick Heidfeld finished just outside the points in seventh with
Australian Mark Webber just behind him in eighth. Pedro de la Rosa was
ninth after three pit stops and a problem on the first lap, while Alex
Yoong was a steady tenth having recovered easily from an early spin at
Adelaide.
http://www.formula1.com/races/racene...ance/race.html

The list of retirements was long and began with Rubens Barrichello,
whose car was left high and dry on front jacks while the rest of the
grid undertook their formation laps. His Ferrari mechanics carried on
working on his car even after it was pushed into the pit lane, but they
had to eventually admit defeat and the frustrated Brazilian could not
even start the race.
http://www.formula1.com/races/racenews/france/pics.html

Takuma Sato was next out after a first corner collision with Olivier
Panis left him struggling without a bargeboard and he eventually slid
off and into the gravel at Lycee. He was followed by Panis who pulled
into his BAR garage and retired despite running repairs from his team
immediately after the coming together. A disappointing end to his home GP.
http://www.formula1.com/races/france/tour.html

The Frenchman's team mate Jacques Villeneuve was next to pull off track
when a cloud of smoke appeared at the rear of his car. Mika Salo was
next to retire when a spectacular cloud of smoke and flames engulfed the
rear of his Toyota for a brief moment. Felipe Massa then retired in the
pits after receiving two drive-through penalties - one for jumping the
start and another for being the first to cross the pit lane demarcation
line as he finished his original penalty. Eddie Irvine and Jarno Trulli
retired almost at the same time - the Ulsterman spinning out when his
rear wing came away from the Jaguar on the straight into Adelaide and
the Italian was seen pulling off onto the grass. McNish was the final
retiree after his spin.

Giancarlo Fisichella and the two Arrows drivers did not run after the
Italian was advised against qualifying or racing by Professor Sid
Watkins following a high-speed accident in Saturday practice, and
neither Arrows driver qualified for the race.

Ferrari's delight at Schumacher's championship win soon engulfed the
entire pit lane and the emotional German seemed lost for words to
describe his joy at the win. He has just one week to go before he can
celebrate with his home fans in Germany - join us for more live coverage
then!

trench

Terribly disappointing for KR. Too bad that Toyota lump couldn't have blown up somewhere else instead of the heaviest breaking zone on the whole track. It was rather amazing to see how much oil the Toyota was dumping out the back in the close-up shot - KR didn't have a chance in that turn. The Toyota blew up about 10s before KR and MS arrived on scene, so I guess that the marshalls didn't realize he'd laid down that much oil to display the proper flags. That's why extra care has to be taken while leading the race - you're often the first guy that hits the trouble (I recall MS losing a race years ago because he cut a tire on the carbon fragments left in the road by someone else's accident).

Funny, I was thinking to myself that technically that pass was illegal because it occured in a turn where yellow flags were being displayed. I then read today that McLaren actually protested the pass for these reasons - this may be the true reason that KR was so pissed. The stewards ruled that since KR locked a wheel and went wide that the pass was legal. I attribute it more to another case of the rules being different for MS. What were you thinking KR? MS doesn't have to slow down for yellows.

BT

Accord

If it didn't happen with only a few laps to go, and if it wasn't going to be MS's 5th world championship win, I am sure they would have given Schuey a drive through penalty. If it was anyone but Schuey, they would have definetly gotten a drive through. You're correct about the rules not applying to him.

The commentators said they think KR was pissed because it would have been his first win in Formula 1, and he was cheated out of his first win by MS.