Barrichello: My Season Starts at Imola

Rubens Barrichello has claimed that his 2002 season starts at the San Marino Grand Prix in two weeks time, where the Brazilian will drive the new Ferrari F2002.

Barrichello is yet to score a point after retiring from the third consecutive race at the Brazilian Grand Prix last Sunday. It was the third time that the Ferrari driver has retired while leading this season, and he is hoping that will change at Imola this month.

"I've been in the lead three times, and I've retired three times," Brazilian Barrichello told Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport. "That means that sooner or later I will win. My Championship starts at Imola, with the new car.

"For the moment, I have showed that I've improved compared to last year, and that I can fight for the podium even when I start from eight place of the grid."

In Brazil, Barrichello used the revised version of last year's F2001 car, while teammate Michael Schumacher, who won the race, drove the new F2002 for the first time in a Grand Prix this season.