A lap of Interlagos with… Rubens
It will be a special race for Rubens Barrichello at Interlagos this weekend as it's not only the final race of the 2006 season, but also his home Grand Prix. The Brazilian gives us his personal account of a flat-out lap around Interlagos.
Rubens Barrichello “The Interlagos circuit is used anti-clockwise for the Brazilian Grand Prix making it physically demanding for the drivers as it tests muscle groups which are rarely used on the conventional clockwise circuits.
"We aim for a nice clean exit out of the last corner to ensure maximum speed along the main pit straight. Next, hard braking down from 300km/h for the left-hand turn one, Descida do Sol, taken in second gear, being careful not to lock the inside front wheel on the very bumpy entry. We fall downhill with a quick change of direction into the right-hand turn two, the Senna S, which we take flat at 140km/h in third gear, and then into the long left-hand turn three, the Curva do Sol, where we build up speed to 290km/h as we exit onto the only other straight on the circuit, Reta Oposta.
"This takes us down to Curva do Lago which is a demanding and tricky medium-speed left-hander taken in third gear at 150km/h and which leads into the tight infield section. Next, the double-apex right-hander, Curva do Laranjinha. This is taken at 200km/h and has been the downfall of many drivers over the years, so we’re careful on braking over the harsh bumps, then precise to keep the right line for the exit toward the tight second-gear right-hander at 90km/h.
"This next section is a slow, flowing right-left-right combination through Pinheirinho and Bico de Pato. Leaving this section, we accelerate hard through a fast left-hander Mergulho - the lowest point of the circuit - which is on the limit at 200km/h and made all the more exciting by the various bumps at its apex. Then we brake hard from 250km/h to 120km/h and down to second gear for the final corner, Junção, which leads us onto the long sweeping left-hand drag up the steep hill toward the finish line.”
