Kimi fastest, but Alonso consistent

MONZA – Luckless Finn Kimi Raikkonen is currently the fastest driver in Formula One, but Spaniard Fernando Alonso will win the drivers’ championship because of his consistency, Ferrari’s experienced Brazilian Rubens Barrichello said after Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix.

Barrichello, 33, a veteran of 214 Grands Prix in a 12-years career, finished a distant 12th as Ferrari suffered a humiliating pointless failure on home soil. But he talked afterwards with reality and honesty as he summed up his team’s disappointing year after five years of glory and hailed a new generation of championship challengers.Barrichello defended Ferrari against their critics after another disappointing race, alluding to the poor performance of the tyres supplied by Bridgestone as the chief reason for their lack of competitive performances.He said that he believed that it would have been considered a success if he and Schumacher had finished around eighth and ninth.”That is what we feel is right for this car now,” he said.Ferrari’s collapse in form and results in 2005, after they won 15 of last year’s 18 races, was reflected in the fall in attendances at Monza.In 2004, when they dominated, there was a disappointing weekend total of only 115 000 and a race day attendance of 75 000.This year, only 60 000 came on Sunday and the weekend total was 93,000.- Nampa-AFPBut he talked afterwards with reality and honesty as he summed up his team’s disappointing year after five years of glory and hailed a new generation of championship challengers.Barrichello defended Ferrari against their critics after another disappointing race, alluding to the poor performance of the tyres supplied by Bridgestone as the chief reason for their lack of competitive performances.He said that he believed that it would have been considered a success if he and Schumacher had finished around eighth and ninth.”That is what we feel is right for this car now,” he said.Ferrari’s collapse in form and results in 2005, after they won 15 of last year’s 18 races, was reflected in the fall in attendances at Monza.In 2004, when they dominated, there was a disappointing weekend total of only 115 000 and a race day attendance of 75 000.This year, only 60 000 came on Sunday and the weekend total was 93,000.- Nampa-AFP