Montoya Ready to Get his Own Back

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya has both vengeance and victory on his mind going into the San Marino Formula One Grand Prix.

Rightly or wrongly, the Williams driver is still simmering after blasting Ferrari's four times World Champion Michael Schumacher for a first-lap collision in the last race in Brazil.

The two have been duellists since the start of the season, Montoya facing up to the German but so far gaining nothing from his bravado.

On pole in Brazil, Montoya accused Schumacher of shutting the door on him as he tried to power past into the fourth corner, a move that tore the front wing off the Williams when it hit the Ferrari's rear wheels.

"I thought he was a fair guy to race with but he's definitely not," he told reporters at Interlagos.

"The only thing that will probably change from Imola is how I go wheel to wheel with Michael," added Montoya in a column for Britain's Autosport magazine.

"If Michael is allowed to race the way we saw in Brazil, then I will race the same way from now on," added the Colombian, who also banged cars with Schumacher at the first corner in Malaysia and was penalised for it.

European Opening

Imola, Ferrari's home race and the first of the season in Europe, represents a perfect opportunity for the Colombian to come out on top. But his teammate, Michael's younger brother Ralf, also has unfinished business of his own to attend to with Schumacher senior.

Ralf was second to Michael in Brazil, after winning in Malaysia, and took his first career victory at Imola last season to give Williams their first triumph after a lull lasting more than three years.

Now Williams are Championship leaders, Ferrari's biggest challengers at every race, and Ralf arrives at the circuit as Michael's closest rival, eight points behind his brother. Imola, scene of Brazilian champion Ayrton Senna's death in a Williams in 1994, has given the team much grief but also more success than any other over the years.

"I would like to claim a victory that I missed in Brazil," Ralf said this week. "The San Marino track suits me, with lots of fast parts...so there's no reason why we shouldn't be very competitive there again."

Michael gave Ferrari's new F2002 a winning debut in Brazil and this time Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, who has had to make do with the old car until now, will get the latest machinery as well. That should allow the Brazilian to secure his first points of the season after three retirements.

Schumacher, chasing his third win in four races, had a rare retirement at Imola last year due to a damaged wheel rim and has tried to calm local expectations.

Most Competitive

"BMW-Williams will definitely be the most competitive team in Imola," the Ferrari driver said this week. "Even last year they were very strong at this track."

Schumacher said that while Williams could count on more top speed, the new Ferrari's rear wing and aerodynamics could make up much of the power difference.

"But we must remember that we only won the Interlagos race because the opposition did not get the most out of its machinery, whereas we did. We hope we can count on a lot of support from the fans. We will need it, given that I expect Williams to be very competitive."

McLaren, with just eight points so far this season, will also be hoping for a turn-up at a circuit where they have qualified on pole for the last four years. So too will Jordan and British American Racing, the two Honda-powered teams who have yet to score a point in 2002.

Ferrari-powered Sauber will be marking another milestone with their 150th Grand Prix start on Sunday.