Grapevine: More News from the Paddock - Australian GP

Havin' A Ball

Emotions were stirred at the first Grand Prix ball of the season in Melbourne on Friday night, when Australian rock icons the Original Little River Band played a tribute to the late George Harrison. The former Beatle, who died of cancer last year, was a big motor racing fan and had many friends up and down the paddock. And the Aussie band played a rendition of Harrison's hit song My Sweet Lord for the 1,100 amassed guests.

The band also played some of their own hits, such as Help, Lonesome Loser and Reminiscing. The ball also helped raise funds for Grand Prix charity Open Family by auctioning off a Ralf Schumacher helmet for $18,000 (US Dollars) and a Mark Webber one for $16,000 (US Dollars).

All Fine

Things were not all fine for fifty percent of the Germans on the Grand Prix grid when Formula One re-convened in Australia. Sauber man Nick Heidfeld and Arrows driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen both made an early entry into the FIA's bad books with their haste in the Albert Park pitlane. Heidfeld was hit with a $1,250 (US Dollars) fine and compatriot Frentzen had to stump up $2,500 (US Dollars) for his misdemeanour.

Record Set

Albert Park attracted a record crowd for the Australian Grand Prix qualifying session on Saturday. Boosted by the massive interest in home hero Mark Webber, the crowd swelled to 112,500 as gate receipts reached an all-time high. And the home support was boosted by a great performance by the Queenbeyan-born Aussie, who outqualified both Jaguars and his teammate Alex Yoong.

Australian Grand Prix corporation boss John Harnden said: "The Australian fans are giving Mark and Minardi enormous support and obviously everyone would love to see him do well and hopefully finish the race." The circuit organisers remained on-course to claim a record attendance for the entire event with the total crowd for the first three days running at 3,800 more fans than last year.

48th Century Boy

Canadian Jacques Villeneuve clocked up a century of races this weekend and became the sixth driver on the grid to have reached the magic number. But his 100th race was not one to remember. He failed to grab himself a celebratory present as he could not capitalise on the opportunity presented by the first-lap crash because his rear wing fell off on lap 27. Still, his landmark race means he joins teammate Olivier Panis, Ferrari pair Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, McLaren's David Coulthard, Jaguar's Eddie Irvine and Arrows man Heinz-Harald Frentzen as a member of the exclusive '100 club'.