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Aug 26 - Brief factbox on Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, who this weekend in Belgium becomes the first F1 driver to chalk up 300 Grands Prix.
The number of races Barrichello has actually started is disputed, notably the 2002 Spanish and French Grands Prix which he qualified for but did not compete in after problems before the formation lap.
The 1998 Belgian Grand Prix, which was re-started without the former Ferrari driver after he was involved in a first lap accident, is not included by some statisticians. However, both the driver, his Williams team and the official F1 website all say Spa will be his 300th race.
* Born in Sao Paulo on May 23, 1972, Barrichello grew up near that city's Interlagos circuit.
* Barrichello made his debut for the Jordan team at the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami. He failed to finish but qualified ahead of more experienced Italian team mate Ivan Capelli.
* The Brazilian did not start the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola after crashing heavily in Friday practice and being knocked unconscious in the cockpit. Austrian Roland Ratzenberger and Barrichello's close friend and mentor Ayrton Senna, the triple world champion, died that weekend.
* Barrichello joined Stewart in 1997, finishing second in Monaco that year, and then moved to Ferrari at the end of 1999, partnering the eventual seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher. His first win came at the 2000 German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, a wet race in which the safety car was deployed when a disgruntled former Mercedes employee crossed the track and walked along the grass verge.
* The low point of his Ferrari career came in Austria in 2002 when he was ordered to let Schumacher win despite having led from the start and dominated the weekend. He moved aside at the last corner, triggering a wave of outrage that led to such 'team orders' being banned.
* Barrichello took another memorable win at Silverstone in 2003 after a protesting Irish priest dressed in a kilt ran on to the track brandishing placards.
* The Sao Paulo native celebrated a record 257th Grand Prix in Turkey in May 2008. The previous record of 256 had belonged to Italian Riccardo Patrese. Michael Schumacher, returning this season, has since also surpassed that number.
* The veteran left Ferrari for Honda at the end of 2005 and had to wait until last season to win again with Brawn GP, the heirs to Honda after the under-performing Japanese manufacturer departed for financial reasons. Barrichello won twice for Brawn, taking his career tally of victories to 11.
The number of races Barrichello has actually started is disputed, notably the 2002 Spanish and French Grands Prix which he qualified for but did not compete in after problems before the formation lap.
The 1998 Belgian Grand Prix, which was re-started without the former Ferrari driver after he was involved in a first lap accident, is not included by some statisticians. However, both the driver, his Williams team and the official F1 website all say Spa will be his 300th race.
* Born in Sao Paulo on May 23, 1972, Barrichello grew up near that city's Interlagos circuit.
* Barrichello made his debut for the Jordan team at the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami. He failed to finish but qualified ahead of more experienced Italian team mate Ivan Capelli.
* The Brazilian did not start the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola after crashing heavily in Friday practice and being knocked unconscious in the cockpit. Austrian Roland Ratzenberger and Barrichello's close friend and mentor Ayrton Senna, the triple world champion, died that weekend.
* Barrichello joined Stewart in 1997, finishing second in Monaco that year, and then moved to Ferrari at the end of 1999, partnering the eventual seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher. His first win came at the 2000 German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, a wet race in which the safety car was deployed when a disgruntled former Mercedes employee crossed the track and walked along the grass verge.
* The low point of his Ferrari career came in Austria in 2002 when he was ordered to let Schumacher win despite having led from the start and dominated the weekend. He moved aside at the last corner, triggering a wave of outrage that led to such 'team orders' being banned.
* Barrichello took another memorable win at Silverstone in 2003 after a protesting Irish priest dressed in a kilt ran on to the track brandishing placards.
* The Sao Paulo native celebrated a record 257th Grand Prix in Turkey in May 2008. The previous record of 256 had belonged to Italian Riccardo Patrese. Michael Schumacher, returning this season, has since also surpassed that number.
* The veteran left Ferrari for Honda at the end of 2005 and had to wait until last season to win again with Brawn GP, the heirs to Honda after the under-performing Japanese manufacturer departed for financial reasons. Barrichello won twice for Brawn, taking his career tally of victories to 11.
