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<body> <Table Width="550" border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="0"><TR><TD Width="35"><IMG SRC="//www.totalmotorsport.com/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="35" HEIGHT="1"></td><td> <CENTER><Table border="0" width="100%"> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="5">F-1</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">25/04/2004</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="4">One Step At A Time For Button</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="3">BAR Finish Second At San Marino</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="1">  </FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">Lucky Strike B·A·R Honda took another step closer to victory today as Jenson Button crossed the line in 2nd place to achieve the team's best race result in its six-season history. He completed a hat-trick of podium finishes in this afternoon's San Marino Grand Prix, promoting his team to 3rd in the Constructors' Championship and taking himself to within a point of 2nd place in the Drivers' standings.<BR> <BR> Jenson made a fantastic start from pole position, leading the first 8 laps until Michael Schumacher was able to pass him in the first round of pitstops. He maintained second place for the remaining 54 laps to secure the best finish of his F1 career. <BR> <BR> Takuma Sato's race got off to a flying start when made up three places off the grid. He subsequently held the point-scoring position of 8th place for most of the race until an engine failure meant that he was unable to finish.<BR> <BR> <B>Jenson Button 2nd Fastest lap time: 1:21.201</B><BR> "It was another fantastic race for me and 2nd place is another step closer to our ultimate ambition - a first win for me and the team. The first lap felt very good and I was able to gather pace, pull away and lead the first stint. This is a difficult track to overtake on so I wasn't too worried, but then after Michael overtook me in the first pitstop he pulled out a very strong lead. I was very surprised actually. There was nothing I could do to catch him but we are very pleased to have taken a step up the podium. Our revised package has worked incredibly well here and this result just goes to prove what we can achieve together with our partners Honda and Michelin. I'm very happy today and it looks like we have a very exciting season ahead of us."<BR> <BR> <B>Takuma Sato DNF (56 laps) Fastest lap time: 1:21.929</B><BR> "It is a shame that I couldn't finish the race with only a few laps to go, since I had a very exciting start and there was a lot of fighting for position in the first lap. But then I struggled with the pace after a few problems with the gearbox at the start, which got worse. Nonetheless, we have seen another great team result here this weekend. I am very much looking forward to the next race in Barcelona at a track I know well from testing there so often this year."<BR> <BR> <B>David Richards, Team Principal</B><BR> "Everyone in the team should be very proud of what we have achieved this weekend. Having gained the upper hand yesterday, Jenson did an outstanding job in the opening laps, but Michael found just a little too much pace for us today. However, pole position yesterday, and second today, create new records for us and establishes B·A·R as a real force at the front end of the F1 grid. All of this gives us further motivation and energy, and I am confident that with our partners Honda and Michelin we will move on to even greater achievements."<BR> <BR> <B>Geoffrey Willis, Technical Director</B><BR> "This weekend's pole position and second place in the race mark another significant performance step for the team. Jenson made perfect use of his pole position to pull away from the field and established a gap by the first stop that effectively guaranteed his second place result. We were not able to match Michael's impressive pace but we very clearly demonstrated our advantage over the rest of the field. Despite an impressive first lap, in which he went from 7th to 4th place, and running for all of the race in the points, we were obviously very disappointed that he was unable to finish. Together with Honda and Michelin we have made good progress and look forward to the next race in Barcelona where we will introduce further car and engine upgrades." <BR> <BR> <B>Shuhei Nakamoto, Engineering Director, Honda Racing Development </B><BR> "Jenson has been immense all weekend. To take pole the way he did and then drive so strongly all race really demonstrates his ability and also his obvious confidence in the car. Taku had to battle hard for the whole race with difficulties but stuck to his task very well and I am sorry the engine eventually stopped. Although we have made a good step this weekend, we have to find the same again to challenge for the top."<BR> <BR> <BR> </FONT></TD></TR> </TABLE><BR> </CENTER> <BR><CENTER><font size="1" color="#808080" face="Tahoma">Copyright ©2000-©2023 TotalMotorSport</font></CENTER> </td> </tr> </table> </body>