A lap of Interlagos with Juan Pablo
The Formula One circus takes its only pit stop of the season on South American ground in Brazil. McLaren driver Juan Pablo Montoya describes what it's like to put in a lap at the Interlagos circuit in a F1 car.
"Powering along the uphill start-finish straight at Interlagos, you reach some 296km/h in seventh gear, before braking hard as the track gradient drops sharply on the entrance to the Descida do Sol.
Your speed drops to 88km/h in second gear as you negotiate the tight left, which provides the best opportunity for overtaking. A flowing right-left sequence follows immediately, you push slightly on the throttle to increase your speed slightly through the right of the Senna 'S', which is taken at 148km/h in third gear, as is where the pit exit feeds back onto the track. The left of Curva do Sol that follows, is a long bend, which is usually quite bumpy, but is taken flat out, at 201km/h. It is important to increase your speed and take a good line through the corner as it swings you onto the long Reta Oposta straight. Pushing hard on the throttle, you reach 290km/h in seventh gear, braking hard for the double apex of Descida do Lago, which is negotiated at 143km/h in third gear. The entrance to the first tight left provides another good overtaking opportunity. Exiting the second apex, which is very bumpy and should again be taken flat out to ensure you have speed on the exit, you blast along the short straight that leads to Ferra dura. You brake from 275km/h in fifth gear to 185km/h in fourth to negotiate the difficult and slippery right hander which is off camber in the exit. Another short burst of power leads to a slow, tight right hander, which is taken in first gear, and is immediately followed by the second gear 88km/h left hand of Pinheirinho. Exiting in third gear, your speed builds up to about 160km/h before braking hard for the Bico de Pato hairpin, the slowest point on the track, which is taken in first gear at 74km/h. The bumpy left hander of Mergulho follows, which can be taken flat out in qualifying at 201km/h in fourth, before braking hard for the important left hander of Juncão, which is taken in second gear at 80km/h. This leads you uphill through the long left hander of Subida do Boxes, which takes you back onto the long start-finish straight."
