Race
As of 2024, this is the last Grand Prix to be won by a Colombian driver in Formula One. Jacques Villeneuve was forced to start from pit lane as a penalty for infringement of parc ferme regulations. After getting involved in an accident at the start of the race, Mark Webber was able to rejoin, over 20 laps behind the leaders. Due to a driveshaft failure, this was Tiago Monteiro 's only retirement of the 2005 season.
Friday drivers
The bottom 6 teams in the 2004 Constructors' Championship were entitled to run a third car in free practice on Friday. These drivers drove on Friday but did not compete in qualifying or the race. Enrico Toccacelo , Minardi's third driver was not present in Brazil as he competed for the Italian team in the opening round of the A1 Grand Prix series at Brands Hatch .
Background
Fernando Alonso led the drivers' championship with 25 points ahead of Kimi Räikkönen and 56 points ahead of Michael Schumacher. With three races remaining, the drivers' championship was decided between Alonso and Räikkönen. A third place would be enough for Alonso to win his first world championship title, while Räikkönen would no longer have a mathematical chance even if he won and came third. In the constructors' championship, Renault led McLaren-Mercedes by six points and Ferrari by 62 points... Williams' Nick Heidfeld , having injured his shoulder in a cycling accident in Switzerland, was replaced again by Antônio Pizzonia . The German had also missed the two previous Grands Prix due to the consequences of an accident in a test session in Monza.
Qualifying
Alonso took his eighth career pole with a time of 1:11.998 minutes ahead of Montoya and Fisichella. Button completed the second line. Räikkönen reached 5th place.
References
23°42′13″S 46°41′59″W / 23.70361°S 46.69972°W / -23.70361; -46.69972
Race Result
| Pos | No | Driver | Constructor | Lap | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Fernando Alonso | Renault | 1:11.988 | — |
| 2 | 10 | Juan Pablo Montoya | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:12.145 | +0.157 |
| 3 | 6 | Giancarlo Fisichella | Renault | 1:12.558 | +0.570 |
| 4 | 3 | Jenson Button | BAR-Honda | 1:12.696 | +0.708 |
| 5 | 9 | Kimi Räikkönen | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:12.781 | +0.793 |
| 6 | 15 | Christian Klien | Red Bull-Cosworth | 1:12.889 | +0.901 |
| 7 | 1 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | 1:12.976 | +0.988 |
| 8 | 16 | Jarno Trulli | Toyota | 1:13.041 | +1.053 |
| 9 | 12 | Felipe Massa | Sauber-Petronas | 1:13.151 | +1.163 |
| 10 | 2 | Rubens Barrichello | Ferrari | 1:13.183 | +1.195 |
The Paddock Breakdown
Barry · Gary · KatGary — 33 · Three Fantasy F1 leagues
The air hangs thick with the scent of damp asphalt and anticipation – a fitting backdrop for this dramatic conclusion. Montoya, piloting a McLaren-Mercedes MP4-20 with its 840 horsepower V10, secured a victory that echoes the spirit of early Grand Prix racing, a testament to raw speed and calculated aggression. Observe how the tire degradation, particularly on the left-fronts, forced Räikkönen to nurse his Williams-BMW – a machine producing 790 bhp – to the very edge of its capabilities. This Brazilian race, a landmark for Montoya and Alonso, also represents the last occasion a Colombian driver would stand atop the Formula One podium.
The air hangs thick with the scent of damp asphalt and anticipation here in Interlagos. Montoya, a name already etched in this circuit's history, secures his seventh victory, a testament to raw speed and a masterful understanding of the track's brutal rhythm. It's a statistic that echoes the names of Stewart and Fangio, suggesting a lineage of drivers who've truly mastered the art of control.
Kat — 30 · Technical journalist
Here. A fractured gearbox, a shudder through the McLaren, and Montoya wrestled the car through the final sector. The roar of the crowd, a fervent wave crashing against the barriers, seemed to amplify the tension. This victory, his seventh, echoes the spirit of Vargas and the burgeoning nationalism of a nation hungry for motorsport glory. A significant moment, given the escalating geopolitical climate – the shadow of the Iraq War lengthening across the globe, a stark contrast to the singular focus of speed and precision here in Interlagos. The Colombian driver's triumph, a quiet affirmation of talent and determination, is a potent symbol. Alonso's championship, secured with such calculated aggression, represents the evolution of strategic racing. A remarkable display of composure, considering the circumstances.
Rain. Always rain in São Paulo. A persistent, sullen grey draped over the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, mirroring perhaps the cautious optimism of the crowd. Montoya, a man forged in the crucible of IndyCar, seemed utterly unfazed, a familiar predator stalking the slick asphalt. The Colombian's control was absolute, a testament to both his raw speed and considered braking. Räikkönen, relentlessly pressing, offered a stark contrast – youthful aggression battling against the prevailing conditions. This victory, the seventh for Montoya, represents more than just a race win; it's a punctuation mark on a career brimming with audacious brilliance. A final, decisive statement delivered under a sky heavy with history.