rpm.espn.com: Drivers to Watch

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Wednesday, April 25
Drivers to Watch
ESPN.com news services

Check out a short list of drivers to keep an eye on this weekend at Catalunya.

Rubens Barrichello
Three of his four races this year were podium finishes; two weeks ago, he was third at the San Marino GP; third place in the drivers' standings with 14 points, 12 behind Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher and McLaren's David Coulthard; finished on the third step of the podium at the Spanish GP last year.

David Coulthard
Made his Formula One debut at Catalunya in 1994; has finished second to McLaren teammate Mika Hakkinen three years straight; the only racer to have finished on the podium in all four grand prixs this year; tied with Michael Schumacher for first place but is second based on one fewer victory.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen
Already a better season than last year; earned points in three of the four races with a season-best fourth in Malaysia; scored a point in Barcelona last year with a sixth-place result; Team Jordan has an improved package this season, which is already paying dividends.

Mika Hakkinen
Took advantage of pit stop problems by Michael Schumacher and won the Spanish GP for the third straight year in 2000; retaining his title may turn his season around after two bad starts and two modest finishes by his standards; was sixth in Malaysia and fourth two weeks ago in San Marino; seventh in the standings with four points.

Michael Schumacher
After slow start and break failure, he failed to finish his first race of the season in San Marino two weeks ago; tied with David Coulthard of McLaren for the top spot in the Drivers' standings with 26 points but holds first based on two wins this year; won the Spanish GP in 1995 and 1996 and has not finished outside the top six in 11 starts; finished fifth in last year's race.

Ralf Schumacher
Won his first career Formula One at the San Marino Grand Prix after leading from start to finish in his Williams BMW; his triumph came in his 70th career start; this is the first time in the modern Formula One era, which started in 1950, that two brothers have recorded Grand Prix wins; older brother Michael has 46 career wins; this was the first win for BMW since it returned to F1 at the start of the 2000 season and the 10th overall for the German auto company, which also competed in the series between 1982-87; the win also marked the first for tire manufacturer Michelin since returning to F1 this year; finished fourth in Spain last year.

Jarno Trulli
The No. 2 Jordan driver also has put together good runs this year; comes off a fifth-place finish at San Marino and also was fifth in Brazil; missed a point finish in Malaysia, placing eighth; 26-year-old Italian was sixth in Spain two years ago.

Jacques Villenueve
One of his 12 career wins was at the Spanish GP in 1997 from the pole; that was the Canadian's championship season; winless since the Luxembourg GP in late September 1997; failed to finish in three races this year and has no points after placing seventh in Brazil.

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