Tifosi dismayed by team orders

A poll held by the website of Italy's foremost sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport showed that only six percent of readers agreed with the way the team ordered Rubens Barrichello to move over and hand Michael Schumacher his 57th win.

Today (Monday) the Gazetta ran with headline 'Ferrari ruins everything', and inside it levels the blame with sporting director Jean Todt, but argues that Michael Schumacher could have calmed the situation.

"Michael was the only one who had the strength to oppose a decision that was insanely unsportsmanlike and unpopular," it reads. "This is a catastrophe for Ferrari because certain things one remembers and talks about."

Its main rival, the Corriere dello Sport took the line that Barrichello's newly signed two-year contract accounted for his acquiesce, despite the fact he was heading for only his second GP win.

"Rubens - paid to lose," it declared. "He has been fooled one time too many. Now Rubens Barrichello shows the world a dull, pale, face of thunder."

However, the Brazilian received a more sympathetic reaction from L'Unita.

"Barrichello defeated by Team Ferrari," read the headline. "The crowd sang the praises of Barrichello, like the audience at the Coliseum did with their beloved gladiators."

Back in Barrichello's homeland, the Brazilian president was adamant that the best man had lost.

"Today, all Brazil is unanimous," Fernando Henrique Cardoso told the nation. "Rubens Barrichello was the winner of Austrian Grand Prix. The cup is his."



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