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                    Crash drivers beg to differ

                    By Michael Lynch


                    FORMULA one driver Rubens Barrichello
                    has defended his tactics in the aftermath of
                    the first-corner accident that took out eight
                    cars in yesterday's Australian GP.

                    Soon after the incident, questions were
                    asked if Barrichello, in his anxiety to
                    defend his lead into the first corner, had
                    weaved across the track too often.

                    There were also claims that the race should
                    have been stopped for a restart once the
                    track had been cleared.

                    Ralf Schumacher, whose car became
                    airborne and flew over Barrichello's
                    Ferrari, was clear on both counts:
                    Barrichello had broken the rules, while FIA
                    safety chief Charlie Whiting had made the
                    right call in allowing the race to proceed.

                    "I had a great start and had already passed
                    Michael (Schumacher) and wanted to pass
                    Barrichello, so I tried to dive into the inside
                    but he closed the door," Ralf Schumacher
                    said.

                    "I then went to the outside and he closed
                    again. I made my last attempt going to the
                    inside and he closed the door and braked
                    at the same time.

                    "I cannot complain about the braking, as
                    we were going into the first corner, even if
                    I thought it was a bit too early, but he
                    definitely changed direction twice and we
                    are only allowed to do it once. I felt like a
                    passenger on an aeroplane.

                    "Charlie Whiting took the right decision by
                    not stopping the race as he had made it
                    very clear to us that he would not stop a
                    race unless it was for safety reasons, and
                    this was not the case".

		    The accident was a true shame as my car
                    was very good and we had no problems at
                    all."

                    Barrichello, not surprisingly, saw things
                    differently. "At the start I tried to defend
                    my position and then I had to brake," he
                    said.

                    "I don't think I did it too early. In fact I
                    think, quite the opposite, I braked later
                    than usual as I was worried something like
                    this might happen.

                    "It was a heavy impact and I reckon Ralf
                    was flat out. I don't think he would have
                    got round the corner."