SUZUKA -RIJ- Veteran Kazuyoshi Hoshino (48) won the first round of All Japan Championship Formula Nippon series at Suzuka Circuit and proved he is still "The Fastest Man in Japan" which has been his nickname since '70s.
Pole sitter Toranosuke Takagi and Hoshino failed to start because of big wheel spin and passed by Shinji Nakano. Takagi was passed by Michael Krumm, too and dropped to fourth after first lap was completed. But Takagi took inside at entrance of Spoon Curve and got third position from Krumm.
Takagi pushed hard and closed to Hoshino, then Takagi passed Hoshino at Casio Triangle Chicane on fifth lap. Takagi chased leader Nakano and tried to pass several times. Nakano's Dome was faster on straight, but slower in corners. They continued tale-to-nose until 26th lap. Takagi tried to get by Nakano at Chcane, but breaking was so hard and locked tires. Takagi hit Nakano and both cars spun. Hoshino passed both cars and led until finish. Nakano could start again and got second, but Takagi retired because rear suspension broke.
German driver Ralf Schumacher and Michael Krumm were third and fourth, followed by Katsutomo Kaneishi.
1996 All Japan Championship, Formula Nippon, Rd.1, Suzuka.
(April 28, 1996) Weather: Fine, Course: Dry
Pos No Driver Car Engine Lap Time km/h,behi.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 19 Kazuyoshi Hoshino (J) Lola T96/95 Mugen 34 1:01'47.773 193.58Km/h
2 8 Shinji Nakano (J) Dome F104i Mugen 34 1:01'54.269 6.496
3 25 Ralf Schumacher (D) Reynard 96D Mugen 34 1:01'58.918 11.145
4 21 Michael Krumm (D) Reynard 95D Mugen 34 1:02'04.156 16.383
5 9 Pedoro De La Rosa (E) Lola T96/51 Mugen 34 1:02'05.771 17.998
6 55 Katsutomo Kaneiishi(J) Reynard 95D Mugen 34 1:02'18.485 30.712
7 56 Satoshi Motoyama (J) Reynard 95D Mugen 34 1:02'19.978 32.205
8 24 Naoki Hattori (J) Reynard 96D Mugen 34 1:02'24.383 36.610
9 2 Katsumi Yamamoto (J) Dome104i Mugen 34 1:02'24.610 36.837
10 7 Masami Kageyama (J) Lola T95/50 Mugen 34 1:02'42.779 55.006
11 31 Hideki Okada (J) Lola T95 Mugen 34 1:02'47.465 59.692
12 5 Marco Apicella (I) Reynard 95D Judd 34 1:02'47.767 59.994
13 30 Eiichi Tajima (J) Lola T94 Mugen 33 1:01'57.796 1 Lap
14 10 Norberto Fontana (ARG) Lola T95/51 Mugen 33 1:02'32.384 1 Lap
15 17 Taichiro Onishi (J) Lola T94/50 Mugen 33 1:02'42.242 1 Lap
16 12 Yukihiro Hane (J) Lola T94/50 Mugen 33 1:02'46.149 1 Lap
17 73 Tesuji Tamanaka (J) Lola T93 DFV 31 1:03'39.786 3 Laps
18 1 Toshio Suzuki (J) Lola T96/94 Mugen 30 54'48.369 4 Laps
---------[ DNC:]-------------------------------------------------------
64 Toranosuke Takagi (J) Reynard 96D Mugen 25 45'29.714 9 Laps
72 Atsushi Kawamoto (J) Lola T93 DFV 25 52'16.867 9 Laps
28 Masahiko Kondo (J) Reynard 94D Mugen 24 45'36.323 10 Laps
6 Hidetoshi Mitsusada(J) Lola T94/50 Judd 21 38'55.881 13 Laps
65 Takuya Kurosawa (J) Reynard 96D Mugen 17 31'55.979 17 Laps
20 Andrew-Gilbert Scott(GB)Reynard 96D Mugen 17 41'59.160 17 Laps
27 Masahiko Kageyama (J) Reynard 95D Mugen 6 11'22.780 28 Laps
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fastest Lap: No.21, Michael Krumm, 1'46.278, On Lap 32/34 (198.63Km/h)
Original Total Lap 35, reduced to 34 because of re-start.
Penalty: No.10, 10 seconds pit stop because of pit road's speed limit
violation.
Data: Suzuka Circuit via NIFTY-Serve Auto Racing Forum.
RIJ-Mitsuru Sugaya/Tokyo,
Next Race: Inter Formula in Mine, May 12 at Mine Circuit.