Former Formula 1 driver Rubens Barrichello took his second win in Brazil Stock Car’s ‘Million Dollar Race’ last weekend.
The Brazilian celebrated a famous victory in the ‘Million Dollar Race’ at Autodromo Internacional Ayrton Senna (Goiania) last weekend, driving the #111 Full Time Sports Chevrolet stock car.
It was also Barichello’s first victory of the season and his second time winning the special race after 2014. It became all the more memorable with his son to celebrate alongside him, especially after recovering from a tumor he suffered earlier in the year.
The 46-year-old started on the front-row with Eurofarma RC’s Daniel Serra on pole but lost places to Hero Motorsport II’s Antonio Felix da Costa, Hero Motorsport’s Lucas di Grassi and Eurofarma RC’s Max Wilson.
However, Barichello was able to clear them all through smart pit stop strategy and also through Fan Push which helped him in the end to win the race by 0.684s over Wilson in a drag race-like finish. Da Costa finished third.
“I have two kids, I got in the car to celebrate with one when I won for the first time [in 2014] and I wanted to get on with the other. I had a feeling that this would happen [this year],” he started. “I just concentrated on doing everything right with pit stops.
“[Also] being on the track fighting for my son to climb on the roof of the car with me. It is a special feeling, a great joy to be living it today and being able to share the podium with my son, with the audience. This podium was wonderful.
“As for the million [Brazilian Real], I’m going to use my part in the Barrichello Institute, which does a very good job and, like every institute, suffers its difficulties in trying to help Brazil improve a little,” he said.
Another former F1 racer Felipe Massa in his Cimed Racing Chevrolet was forced to retire due to a puncture late in the race on the same lap as di Grassi. Meanwhile, the win has put Barrichello in fifth position with 115 points, but he still 50 down on leader Serra.
