Ferrari's Felipe Massa
brought back golden memories of Ayrton Senna on Sunday in becoming the first
Brazilian Formula One driver to win at home since the late champion in 1993.
"It's just a dream come true. You see all the people bringing the flags,
screaming your name and they are really jumping and dancing," Massa said after
what he recognised as the best day of his life.
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Ferrari Formula One driver Felipe
Massa of Brazil celebrates with the Ferrari team after winning the
Brazilian Grand Prix, the last F1 race of the season, at the Interlagos
track in Sao Paulo, October 22, 2006. Renault's Fernando Alonso of Spain
won his second successive Formula One world championship at the Brazilian
Grand Prix on Sunday. The 25-year-old Spaniard, needing only one point to
secure the title, finished second in the season-ending race at Interlagos.
Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, who had to win to have any hope of a record
eighth title in his last race before retirement, was
fourth.[Reuters]
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"I think it's just a dream come true. I always dreamed of having this day in
my life and I got it.
"It's really amazing to be here, winning my home Grand Prix, starting from
pole position," he added. "I have to say it was the easiest race in my life
because I had such an incredible car, I could control the pace from the
beginning to the end."
Under normal circumstances, Massa would have been expected to play the role
of sidekick to team mate Michael Schumacher but fate decreed otherwise.
The German, in the last race of an extraordinary career, qualified 10th on
the grid after a fuel pressure problem on Saturday.
A puncture while he was fighting Italian Giancarlo Fisichella for fifth place
then sent Schumacher to the back of the field and even one last great fightback
could not lift the seven-times champion higher than fourth.
The day was Massa's and he celebrated Senna-style, brandishing a Brazilian
flag collected from the crowd on his slowing down lap.
"When I took the flag I remembered about Ayrton, and I remembered not so much
the Brazilian Grand Prix when he took the flag but the time he did it at
Monaco," Massa said. "I always remember that moment.
"I stopped straightaway in the first corner to find a flag and then I saw
this guy running quickly and I took the flag and I think also he was going to
jump in the car, it was really funny and very nice," Massa said.
The 25-year-old recalled how he had watched Senna at Interlagos, like most
Brazilians following a national idol.
"I think everybody watched that race. It was amazing," said Massa.
"I was just 12 years old then. I was at home, not at the track, but I
remember it was amazing to see Senna winning the Brazilian Grand Prix and then
the people running on the track after the race.
"And I saw the same today so it was just very nice."
