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Wednesday, February 28 Drivers to Watch ESPN.com news services Check out a short list of drivers to keep an eye on this weekend at the Austrailian Grand Prix. Rubens Barrichello His first career F1 victory in Germany last year was very emotional and most deserved; the perfect fit at Ferrari as No. 2 driver behind Michael Schumacher; more wins are possible but not likely to contend for the championship; finished second to Schumacher in the Australian GP last season; fourth in the final standings with 58 points. Jenson Button No longer a rookie, the 20-year-old is expected to improve on his successful initial Formula One season; loaned by Williams to Benetton as partner to Giancarlo Fisichella; looks to prove his former team wrong when he battles replacement Juan Montoya provided Benetton lives up to its preseason hype. David Coulthard Still unable to outrace his McLaren teammate Mika Hakkinen; expected to have another fine season; survived brush with death in a plane crash near Lyon, France; finished 11 races on the podium including three wins added to his record; won the 1997 Australian GP and was second in 1998; finished third in the World Drivers' championship with 67 points. Giancarlo Fisichella The 28-year-old will be pressured to perform better by new teammate Jenson Button; both have tested well and hope to revive challenges for the Benetton team; collected 18 points in 2000 with three podium finishes; second in Brazil was best showing. Heinz-Harald Frentzen His 2000 season was nowhere near as strong as his 1999 campaign was when he finished third in points behind Mika Hakkinen and Michael Schumacher; best finish was third in the U.S. and Brazil, while all sorts of other problems caused non-finishes in nine races; team Jordan's improved equipment and package should provide enough strength for podium finishes. Mika Hakkinen Became a father in the off season; a strong start, unlike last year, is key in order to contend for his third title; this will be his 10th year on the Formula One circuit; finished runner-up to Michael Schumacher in the championship run and accepted that with class; had four wins and seven second-place finishes; experienced near-fatal crash in Adelaide, Australia during qualifying in 1995 where he suffered a fractured skull; a track doctor had to perform an emergency tracheotomy to save his life. Juan Montoya After nearly signing with Williams in 1999, he finally makes his debut in Formula One with much media hype surrounding him; the former CART champion is taking all the attention in stride; showed much talent and skills in the American based CART series where he won the championship in 1999; one of four rookies to take the track this weekend; coming to Formula One will be a bigger challenge to confront; expected to produce good results right from the outset; cold relationship with teammate Ralf Schumacher (who has a more quiet style) should make for an interesting season to watch; they will thrive to push each other for good performances. Michael Schumacher The best at what he does; won his third Formula One championship last year to give Ferrari its first drivers' title since Jody Scheckter in 1979; Ferrari also won the constructors' championship; is within reach of becoming the all-time winner in Formula One; has 44 wins, seven fewer than Alain Prost; last year he won the first three races of the season and the last four, with two other in between for nine total. Ralf Schumacher The younger brother of Michael is a talent in his own right; should have a healthy competition with new Williams teammate Juan Montoya of Colombia; their off track relationship is rather tense; finished fifth with 24 points in the standings last year; best results were three podium finishes (all third place) including in Australia. Jacques Villeneuve The 1997 Formula One champion still showed solid skills last year; after a pointless 1999, went on to score 17 points in 2000 and a seventh place drivers' finish; best results were four fourth-place finishes, including at the Australian GP.  Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
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