Villeneuve does it again! - Andrew Farankl

Argentinian Grand Prix: Villeneuve does it again!

Andrew Frankl European Bureau Chief

On a day when 21 year Tiger Woods made golfing history by winning the Masters in Augusta, Georgia by a record margin an equally young German race car driver nearly did something pretty astonishing as well.

At one point during the race there was a distinct possibility that Michael Schumcher's younger brother Ralf might win a Grand Prix in only his third race! It was not to be thanks to the endurance and brilliance of Jacques Villeneuve who equaled his late Father's 6 victories this afternoon in the boiling heat of the Buenos Aires track. Even though he was suffering from Montezuma's revenge -also known as the Delhi belly..- Villeneuve somehow managed to hang in there and in the last few laps even the hard-charging Eddie Irvine could not get past him even though he tried everything he knew.

It was not a day for former champions. Michael Schumacher eliminated himself on the first corner of the first lap by trying too hard. He collected Rubens Barrichello into the bargain. The Brazilian was not too happy about all this his only consolation being a new Rolex Daytona watch he managed to wrestle from team boss Jackie Stewart's wrist. This he did by virtue of the fact that he qualified in fifth place, an amazing feat for the Stewart-Ford team. Unfortunately he could not complete the race although he did continue for a while.

Damon Hill had a spirited race until his engine gave up the ghost, poor guy has yet to finish a race this year.

Johnny Herbert was an excellent fourth, his first finish of the season. 21 year old Ralf Schumacher' s third place was sensational apart from a huge telling off from team-boss Eddie Jordan. Unfortunately Ralf eliminated his team mate in the process which did not go down too well with the Irishman who celebrated 100 Grands Prix on this occasion. This was also the 600th Grand Prix so there were celebrations going on all the time and all over town.

Now the attention moves to Europe and to Imola . With the trial into Senna's fatal accident still in progress it will not be a happy place or a happy occasion but one thing is for sure- the old regime of two Williams followed bytwo Benettons followed by two Ferraris followed by two McLarens is most certainly over.

Not a minute too soon. Roll on the new teams, the new faces, even the new -Bridgestone-tyres !