Monaco Grand Prix: 2004 Trivia Quiz

Answer: 1929

The first Monaco Grand Prix race took place on 14th April 1929. Sixteen cars competed, and their places on the starting grid were chosen by lot. Eight of the sixteen cars were Bugattis, and it was a Bugatti 35B driven by an Englishman named William Grover-Williams who won the race.

Answer: Circuit de Monaco

The Circuit de Monaco is the only Formula One race track which is situated entirely on public roads. As such it has special dispensation from the FIA in regard to compliance with the tight standards imposed on other Formula One tracks. Monaco has always been recognised as the most glamorous Grand Prix location, and many Formula One drivers have lived there.

The Circuit de Nevers was a location of the French Grand Prix. The other two names are made up.

Answer: True

With a lap distance of only 3.367 kilometres (2.092 miles), the Monaco Grand Prix circuit was the shortest of the 2004 series. This also meant that with seventy-eight laps it had the most laps of the season. It is an extremely tight, narrow and demanding circuit with virtually no possibility of overtaking, hence pole position at Monaco has always been of greater importance than at any other circuit.

Answer: Rubens Barrichello

Rubens Barrichello was born on 23rd May 1972 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He was driving Formula One cars before he was 21 years old, and by 2004 had driven for Jordan (1993 - 96), Stewart (1997 - 99), and Ferrari (2000 - 04).

Answer: Jarno Trulli

This was Trulli's first ever pole position, and he managed to hold the lead for most of the race. While Trulli was making his second pit stop, Michael Schumacher briefly took the lead from Trulli's team-mate Alonso who had collided with Ralf Schumacher. Trulli went on to become the first Italian for over twenty years to win the Monaco Grand Prix.

Answer: Pont de la Concorde

The Pont de la Concorde was a feature of the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit, home of the 2004 Canadian Grand Prix. Virage Anthony Noghes was the right hand bend taken just before the start-finish straight. Nouvelle Chicane was the left-right taken just after the tunnel section, which drivers approached at about 175 mph before changing into second gear and slowing to about 30 mph. Tabac was the most scenic and glamorous part of the circuit, running alongside the harbour with its rows of luxury yachts.

Answer: seventh to fourth

Due to the narrow width and complexity of the Monaco track, pole position and start are of paramount importance. Sato's move from seventh to fourth was awesome. He overtook Kimi Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher driving into fourth place behind his BAR-Honda team mate Jenson Button.

This made a rare Formula One combination of two Renaults in the lead, with two BARs in third and fourth positions. Unfortunately Sato's engine blew up during lap three, and he was forced to retire.

Answer: True

The increased pit lane speed limit was due to a major improvement in the pit lane complex. This was situated on newly reclaimed land between the Swimming Pool and La Rascasse sections. The new complex was a two storey design with garages below, and administrative facilities above.

The new pit garages were comparable in size with other Formula One race tracks, including those of Magny-Cours (France) and Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium).

Answer: Ferrari and Williams-BMW

Following an earlier incident between Ralf Schumacher and Fernando Alonso, the safety car had been deployed. In the tunnel section Michael Schumacher, who was race leader at the time, braked hard in order to keep the heat in his brakes. Montoya tried to take avoiding action by moving to the right but their cars touched. Schumacher's Ferrari then hit one of the barriers breaking his left, front suspension which resulted in his retirement from the race. Montoya went on to complete the race, finishing in fourth place.

Answer: A valuable diamond was lost from the Jaguar nose cone.

Both Jaguars had single flawless diamonds mounted in their nose cones, each worth about $200,000. These were owned by the Israeli diamond merchant Steinmetz, and were intended for a publicity stunt which went very wrong indeed! In spite of a detailed search conducted immediately after the race, the lost diamond could not be found.

The Jaguars were also carrying advertisements for the Hollywood film "Ocean's 12", the plot of which involved a diamond robbery.

Answer: Ayrton Senna

Ayrton Senna held the Monaco Grand Prix track record with six wins. If Michael Schumacher had won the 2004 race he would have equalled Senna, and would also have won the first six races of the 2004 season. Ayrton Senna also held the most pole positions (five) at Monaco.

Answer: True

Toyota was the only team in which both drivers completed the race. The cars were driven by Cristiano da Matta and Olivier Panis, who finished in sixth and eighth positions respectively. Ralf Schumacher broke down due to gearbox failure only four laps from the end of the race.

In spite of not completing the race he was awarded tenth place. The other Williams-BMW driver Juan Pablo Montoya took fourth place.

Answer: Olivier Panis and Nick Heidfeld

Takuma Sato's Honda engine blew up during the third lap, resulting in a huge cloud of smoke which obscured the following drivers' vision. Fisichella then crashed into the back of Coulthard's McLaren, taking both cars out. Montoya collided with Michael Schumacher in the tunnel section forcing Schumacher to retire. Ralf Schumacher had passed several blue flags warning him to give way to Alonso who was lapping him.

He eventually gave way at the tunnel entrance, but Alonso spun off at the chicane. Alonso later claimed that Schumacher had accelerated whilst being overtaken, pushing him wide.

Answer: Italian and French

The Italian national anthem was played for Jarno Trulli who won the race and the Winner's trophy. The French national anthem, "The Marseillaise", was played on behalf of Renault who won the Constructor's trophy. Second place was taken by Jenson Button and BAR-Honda, and third place by Rubens Barrichello and Ferrari.

Answer: His Serene Highness Rainier III, Prince of Monaco

His full name is Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand Grimaldi, but he is generally known simply as Prince Rainier. He was born on May 31st 1923, and succeeded to the throne of Monaco on May 9th 1949. As well as Prince of Monaco, he holds many other minor titles. Prince Rainier married the American actress Grace Kelly in 1956, and has three children.

He served with distinction during World War II as an artillery officer, and was awarded the Bronze Star, Croix de Guerre and Legion d'Honneur, which is France's highest military decoration.