Aug.26 (GMM) Not every anorak will be celebrating Rubens Barrichello’s milestone 300th grand prix at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend.
According to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, the veteran Brazilian will actually only record the feat at Singapore late next month.
The magazine said two grands prix in 2002 – Spain and France – do not count in Barrichello’s tally because he did not even complete the formation lap before technical problems grounded his Ferrari.
Auto Motor und Sport said it is not right to count those races, because it would be like saying the 14 cars that pulled into the pits before the infamous 2005 US grand prix actually contested the race.
Interestingly, F1’s official website lists Barrichello as having entered 300 grands prix.
But statistical authority Jacques Deschenaux’s gpguide.com website counts only 296 grands prix as having been contested to date by the 38-year-old.
Alongside the two races in 2002, also in question is Spa in 1998, when the Brazilian did not take the re-start due to injury.
Barrichello, who will mark his 300th at Spa with a special helmet and t-shirt, also sat out the 1994 San Marino grand prix after his practice crash.
