Grapevine: Final News from the Paddock - Brazilian GP

Missing Wave

Pele, described by the organisers of the Brazilian Grand Prix as "the king of football" was the official chequered flag waver for this year's race at Interlagos, but he was not as successful in his new job as he was on the football field. Unfortunately for the national football hero he was not able to wave the flag at his compatriot Rubens Barrichello, as the Ferrari driver's car had expired much earlier. But still, he could have made a little effort to wave home the Brazilian's teammate Michael Schumacher as he crossed the line to take the victory.

Sadly, Pele missed his latest moment of glory, and stood baffled and embarrassed on the gantry as he belatedly and rather limply showed the chequered to an empty track - not that Schumacher was that bothered anyhow. "The sort of speed we are doing there and the time we can see what is going on with Mr Pele is very little," he said. "I didn't see the flag, but that's the only thing I noticed."

Home Hero

Rubens Barrichello wowed the Brazilian crowds with an appearance that drew cheers of elation from the packed Interlagos pitlane. The usual ribbon barriers which line the front of the Ferrari garages had to be replaced with metal crowd barriers for the Saturday lunchtime pits walkabout as the passionate support for the team's number two driver overflowed. Barrichello's arrival was met with screams and a surge in the crowd as local fans squashed their way to the front in a desperate effort to get their hero's signature on a hat, a shirt, or a scrap of paper.

The amiable Barrichello happily obliged, and he even took a hurried snapshot of himself with someone in the crowd when they thrust their camera at him as he rushed around trying to please everybody in double-quick time. The appearance was, however, all too brief for the fanatical crowd. As soon as he had gone they rapidly dispersed and even World Champion Michael Schumacher dancing in the pitlane would not have tempted them back.

New Home Hero

Despite the apparent popularity of home-grown star Rubens Barrichello, it is actually Williams Colombian star Juan Pablo Montoya who is the new darling of the Brazilian masses crowded into the Interlagos circuit. In an opinion poll conducted by the organisers of the Brazilian Grand Prix, Montoya was voted the favourite, although no figures were presented to prove the fact.

The popular driver made his Grand Prix debut last year and immediately showed he was not to be messed with in Brazil, when he made a dramatic pass on World Champion Michael Schumacher. He was presented with what the officials described as 'a small painting' in recognition of his immense popularity. Rubens Barrichello was unavailable for comment!

Another Record

The Brazilian Grand Prix organisers claimed another increase in crowds at Interlagos this year when they revealed the Saturday attendance was 38,300. That is 8,300 fans up on the estimated crowd levels of last year but still less than half the circuit's total capacity. However, the grandstands were packed with fans extremely early on race day and with a likely further increase in attendance on last year, the atmosphere alone shows that the Sao Paulo event deserves its place on the Formula One calendar.