Grapevine: Final News from the Paddock - Brazilian GP

Drivers' Photo

Before the drivers' parade around the Interlagos track on Sunday morning, the 20 drivers were scheduled to have a traditional end of season photograph together. Unfortunately World Champion Michael Schumacher kept his fellow drivers waiting as he strolled up leisurely with the other 19 carefully positioned in three rows. Jaguar's Mark Webber, however, had seen an opportunity and placed the team's unofficial mascot - the inflatable Donkey - into the World Champion's chair at the front. And when Schumacher did finally arrive and realised he had been made an Ass of, he saw the funny side of it and sat on teammate Rubens Barrichello's lap in order to give the Donkey a share of the limelight.

The blow-up creature, however, was launched out of the way when the snap was taken. The line-up was a far cry for the season-opening shot, however. Jarno Trulli has swapped Renault overalls for Toyota, Jacques Villeneuve was in his place in light blue, Ricardo Zonta was alongside Trulli with Cristiano da Matta and Olivier Panis, the team's drivers in Australia, gone, and Timo Glock stood in place of Giorgio Pantano for Jordan.

Five Alive

The seriousness of Williams-BMW's search for a second driver for 2005, or the change in engine regulations for next year, has at least not put paid to BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen's humorous side. Sitting at a press conference along with the team's technical director Sam Michael, he produced a cracking comment. Michael was asked how many drivers are on the shortlist to join Mark Webber next season, the Australian responded "it is between four and six". Theissen, as quick as ever, butted in with the comment "so that is five!" Pure genius.

Crowd Success

Hopes of a home win for Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello were high and coupled with the presence of Sauber's Felipe Massa and Toyota driver Ricardo Zonta on the grid, organisers of the Brazilian Grand Prix enjoyed impressive crowd figures throughout the weekend at Interlagos. Around 14,300 came through the turnstiles on Friday, while 52,600 came through the gates for Saturday's qualifying session. A sell-out 69,230 were inside the Autodromo seeking to witness a Barrichello victory from pole position on Sunday, making a total of 136,130 for the entire weekend.