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Grand Prix of Europe Preview

Jul 22, 2007 - 10:48 AM

July 22, 2007
Nurburgring Circuit
Nurburgring, Germany

Laps: 60
Track length: 3.2 miles
Race length: 191.9 miles

Lap Record: Michael Schumacher, 1:29.468, 2004


DRIVERS TO WATCH
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Fernando Alonso (Spain)
Team: McLaren
2007 Points: 58 (2nd)

Won here in 2005 and was runner-up last year; placed second at
the Santander British Grand Prix and gained two points on rookie
teammate and points leader Lewis Hamilton; now trails by 12
points after dropping 14 points back after the French Grand
Prix, where he finished seventh; was runner-up to Hamilton at
Indianapolis; won at Monaco and ran third at hometown Spanish
Grand Prix; stormed to an easy victory at Malaysia and
registered a second-place finish in his McLaren debut at
Australia, finishing 7.2 seconds behind Kimi Raikkonen; has
finished in the top five in seven of nine starts this season.


Lewis Hamilton (Britain)
Team: McLaren
2007 Points: 70 (1st)

The points leader finished third in back-to-back races at the
British Grand Prix and Magny-Cours, after making history at
Canada where he become the first black driver to win a Formula
One race; followed that victory in Canada by winning the United
States Grand Prix; placed second in four consecutive races prior
to his back-to-back wins; rookie sensation has burst onto the
circuit by storm, running third at Australia and placing second
at Malaysia, Bahrain, Spain and Monaco; finished 18 seconds
behind Alonso at Malaysia and is first rookie in series history
since 1964 to capture podium finishes in his first three races;
also is the first black driver in series history; has finished
among the top five in all nine starts this year; posted a
third-place finish here a year ago.


Nick Heidfeld
Team: BMW Sauber
2007 Points: 33 (5th)

Finished sixth at British Grand Prix and is holding down fifth
place in the points standings; seeking first win of the season;
opened the year with three consecutive fourth place finishes at
Australia, Malaysia and Bahrain; had best race of the season at
Canada where he finished second; forced to retire at Spain and
the United States Grand Prix; has five top five finishes in nine
starts this year; finished 10th in this event last season.


Felipe Massa (Brazil)
Team: Ferrari
2007 Points: 51 (4th)

After holding down the third spot in the points standings, fell
to fourth following a fifth place finish British Grand Prix; is
19 points behind Hamilton and just one point back of Ferrari
teammate Kimi Raikkonen, who now holds the three spot; was
runner-up to Raikkonen at Magny-Cours; also was black-flagged at
Canada; ran third at Indianapolis and Monaco after capturing
two straight checkered flags at Bahrain and Spain; finished
fifth at Malaysia; kicked off his campaign with a sixth place at
Australia; ran third in this race last season; seven top five
finishes in nine starts this season.


Kimi Raikkonen (Finland)
Team: Ferrari
2007 Points: 52 (3rd)

Is seeking his third consecutive checkered flag after wins at
the British Grand Prix and Magny-Cours; has leap-frogged Massa
for third place in the points standings; his three wins are the
most on the circuit this season and he has seven top five
finishes in nine starts; finished fourth at Indianapolis and
fifth at Canada; struggled to eighth place at Monaco and retired
due to electrical problems at Spain, dropping him from first to
fourth in the standings; registered his second consecutive
third-place finish at Bahrain to climb into three-way tie with
Hamilton and Alonso for first; had a dazzling debut with new
team Ferrari, capturing the checkered flag in the season opener
at Australia; joined Ferrari after spending the last five years
with McLaren; finished fourth in this event last season.

2006 Top 10
-----------
 1. Michael Schumacher, Germany, Ferrari
 2. Fernando Alonso, Spain, Renault
 3. Felipe Massa, Brazil, Ferrari
 4. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, McLaren-Mercedes
 5. Rubens Barrichello, Brazil, Honda
 6. Giancarlo Fisichella, Italy, Renault
 7. Nico Rosberg, Germany, Williams-Cosworth
 8. Jacques Villeneuve, Canada, Sauber-BMW
 9. Jarno Trulli, Italy, Toyota
10. Nick Heidfeld, German, Sauber-BMW

Past Champions
--------------
2006 Michael Schumacher, Ferrari
2005 Fernando Alonso, Renault
2004 Michael Schumacher, Ferrari
2003 Ralf Schumacher, Williams
2002 Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari
2001 Michael Schumacher, Ferrari
2000 Michael Schumacher, Ferrari
1999 Johnny Herbert, Stewart
1998 Mika Hakkinen, McLaren
1997 Jacques Villeneuve, Williams
1996 Jacques Villeneuve, Williams
1995 Michael Schumacher, Benetton
1985 Michele Alboreto, Ferrari
1984 Alain Prost, McLaren
1976 James Hunt, McLaren
1975 Carlos Reutemann, Brabham
1974 Clay Regazzoni, Ferrari
1973 Jackie Stewart, Tyrrell
1972 Jacky Ickx, Ferrari
1971 Jackie Stewart, Tyrrell
1969 Jacky Ickx, Brabham
1968 Jackie Stewart, Matra
1967 Denny Hulme, Brabham
1966 Jack Brabham, Brabham
1965 Jim Clark, Lotus
1964 John Surtees, Ferrari
1963 John Surtees, Ferrari
1962 Graham Hill, BRM
1961 Stirling Moss, Lotus
1958 Tony Brooks, Vanwall
1957 Juan M. Fangio, Maserati
1956 Juan M. Fangio, Ferrari
1954 Juan M. Fangio, Mercedes
1953 Nino Farina, Ferrari
1952 Alberto Ascari, Ferrari
1951 Alberto Ascari, Ferrari