SEPTEMBER 2, 2000

Drivers wary of first corner carnage at Monza

SEVERAL Formula One drivers are fearful that changes to Monza's first chicane will cause opening lap chaos in next weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

SEVERAL Formula One drivers are fearful that changes to Monza's first chicane will cause opening lap chaos in next weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

The modifications to the circuit received criticism during testing at the track this week, and a number of drivers have since predicted carnage at the start next Sunday.

Jordan's Jarno Trulli and Arrows' Pedro de la Rosa both believe an accident will happen but are praying they are not involved.

"There is going to be an accident at the start," said Trulli. Spaniard De la Rosa added: "There's going to be carnage at the start - I just hope I'm not part of it."

McLaren's David Coulthard, who was far from impressed with the adjustments made to the circuit, said that drivers will cut the new chicane because braking is more difficult than in the past.

"It's difficult to see the braking points to the corner and so many people are cutting the chicane because of that," Coulthard said. "I don't know what it is going to be like at the start of the race."

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, however, claimed the changes had improved the circuit and believes that the new set-up will prevent the teams from encountering suspension problems.

"They have done a good job on the circuit," Schumacher said. "We don't have to worry about breaking suspension parts anymore."