Trulli wins just in front of Button

F1 Grand Prix, GP Monaco, Monte Carlo Circuit

Monaco 2004 turned out to be one of the most exciting Formula One races from the last few years. Trulli secured his first win of his career at the fabulous Monte Carlo circuit. Teammate Alonso was less fortunate because of his crash in the tunnel, just like Schumacher. Trulli was accompanied by Button and Barrichello on the podium

Already at the start, there seemed to be some trouble, when a first attempt to start the race was postponed to 14:09 local time, as officially Olivier Panis was not on the right place to start the race.

When they finally got started, it was clear that Takuma Sato would suffer an engine breakdown. From the first lap, more and more plumes of smoke came out of the exhausts of his BAR. In the second lap, the Honda engine finally exploded with such a smoke development that the followers could hardly see where they were driving. Nearest follower Raikkonen got by, but all others braked heavily. Fisichella at that time did not see the slow runnig McLaren of Coulthard and hit the Scot, resulting in both their retirement.

So it happened that after 3 laps, 4 people were not in the race anymore. The race further developed with both Renaults firmly leading the race, Trulli in front of Alonso. Michael Schumacher, who had lost one place to Kimi at the start, managed to get in third after the first series of stops.

Tension remained for some time as the leading men were rather close to each other, but positions remaind. Then all of a sudden, Alonso crashed into the outside wall of the tunnel, after a difficult attempt to pass Ralf, who was already a lap down. As a result, the safetycar came out, with on its tail Michael and Montoya. For an unknown reason, Schumacher blocked his outer front wheel. The manouvre surprised Juan Pablo, who hit the right rear wheel of the six time world champion. Schumacher hit the wall two laps after Alonso did, eventually resulting in also his retirement after he manager to reach the pits on three wheels.

When the safetycar left the track, Trulli was leading in front of Button. Both men were the only two left in the same lap, and were seperated by around 6 seconds 2 laps after the end of the SC procedure.

Trulli managed to win the race just in front of Button, who closed the gap to 0.6 seconds at the finish line. Only nine driver finished the race. The podium was completed by Barrichello, who managed to bring a disappointing 6 points to Ferrari.