2006 Australian Grand Prix

Infobox Grand Prix race report
Type = F1
Country = Australia
Grand Prix = Australian

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Caption = The Albert Park Circuit
Date = April 2
Year = 2006
Official name = LXXI Foster's Australian Grand Prix
Race_No = 3
Season_No = 18
Location = Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit
Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia
Course = Parkland street circuit
Course_mi = 3.33
Course_km = 5.30
Distance_laps = 57
Distance_mi = 187.822
Distance_km = 302.271
Weather = Fine
Attendance = 103,000 [cite web |title=Aussie GP to revert to opening race in 2007 |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2006/04/02/1606688.htm |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=2006-04-02]
Pole_Driver = Jenson Button
Pole_Team = Honda
Pole_Time = 1:25.229
Pole_Country = UK
Fast_Driver = Kimi Räikkönen
Fast_Team = McLaren-Mercedes
Fast_Time = 1:26.045
Fast_L

Fast_Country = Finland
First_Driver = Fernando Alonso
First_Team = Renault
First_Country = Spain
Second_Driver = Kimi Räikkönen
Second_Team = McLaren-Mercedes
Second_Country= Finland
Third_Driver = Ralf Schumacher
Third_Team = Toyota
Third_Country = GermanyThe 2006 Australian Grand Prix was the third race of the 2006 Formula One World Championship. It was held on the weekend of March 31–April 2 2006 at Albert Park, Melbourne. The race was won by Fernando Alonso, with Kimi Räikkönen second, and Ralf Schumacher third.

The Australian Grand Prix had been the season opener since 1996, but this race was held later due to the 2006 Commonwealth Games being held in Melbourne at the time of the opening round. The season was instead opened in Bahrain. Australia regained its first round slot of the season for 2007.

Friday Drivers

Notes

# Scott Speed finished eighth but had 25 seconds added to his race time for lack of attention to yellow flags. Speed was also fined $5000 for using abusive language during a post-race hearing.
# Jenson Button retired on the finish line due to engine failure, deliberately giving up a points-scoring position, to avoid a 10 place position penalty in the next race.
# Takuma Sato was reprimanded by the stewards for lack of attention to blue flags.
# Giancarlo Fisichella started from the pit-lane after stalling on the grid, causing a one lap shortening of the race.
# Juan Pablo Montoya spun on the formation lap to the grid but was able to move back to fifth (now fourth) place on the grid due to Fisichella stalling.
# Lap Leaders: Jenson Button 1–3 (3); Fernando Alonso 4–19, 23–57 (51); Kimi Räikkönen 20 (1); Mark Webber 21–22 (2).
# Ralf Schumacher served a pitlane drive-through penalty for exceeding the pitlane speed limit and dropped to 8th place.
# Murray Walker made a return to the commentary box for a one-off with Australia's Network Ten.

tandings after the race

Note, only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.;Drivers' Championship standings;Constructors' Championship standings

References

External links

* [http://www.manipef1.com/results/2006/australia.php Detailed Australian Grand Prix results]
* [http://www.crash.net/news_View~t~Race-result---Australian-Grand-Prix--amended--~cid~1~id~127653.htm Australian Grand Prix result]
* [http://www.fia.com/sport/Championships/F1/F1_Classifications/2006/Australia/2006.html FIA's results table]
* [http://formula1.com/race/result/753/8.html Results from The Official Formula 1 Website]

F1 race report
Name_of_race = Australian Grand Prix
Year_of_race = 2006
Previous_race_in_season = 2006 Malaysian Grand Prix
Next_race_in_season = 2006 San Marino Grand Prix
Previous_year's_race = 2005 Australian Grand Prix
Next_year's_race = 2007 Australian Grand Prix