Bruno Senna got to drive his new toy, given to him at Imola six months earlier... his uncle Ayrton's 1986 Lotus 98T. The fans were really teary-eyed and the mechanics of the old era, including Patrick Head and Patrick Faure, thought that racing was much better back then. Of course it was! The sweet note of the turbo whirred through Interlagos and our memories of 11 to 20 years ago.

Let these photos tell the whole story.

Clicked Photos Will Open a New Window.

Michael Schumacher and me at Jean Todt's door. Bruno Senna, super rookie. It was Bruno's first run in the treacherous 1986 Lotus 98T of his uncle. He did incredibly well in damp conditions on slicks. The press were all over the obvious 'family' story but savvy reporters did not ignore the fact that Bruno can hold his own in the limelight and in the cockpit. All systems "go" as Ayrton Senna's Lotus 98T returns to the F1 track, this time on Saturday morning at the Senna "S" of Interlagos, driven by his nephew, Bruno Senna Lalli. The crowds were there on a wet Sunday before the race to see their hero's car once again. Awe-struck F1 mechanics and techies who worked in 1986 all said that F1 was much better then than now. I was with Bruno for most of the weekend and this was the only red light I saw him stop for. If you go to www.donkeydoesf1.co.uk you will see the exploits of Donkey as he travelled the F1 world with Jaguar F1.  Donkey got around. Even got an FIA scrutineer's badge! The Jaguar Racing rep and I each shot photos from opposite angles at the same time. My wife and I watched the start of the race from the Jordan garage, as it was closest to the 1st turn (save for Minardi).  The crew was always very nice to us, telling us, tongue-in-cheek, when to expect the pit stop on the condition that we "didn't tell Ferrari".   Watching from the paddock is special but INCOMPARABLE to watching a Grand Prix from the pitlane! Dr. Akihiko Saito, Exec. VP, Toyota Worldwide, and head of all Toyota Motorsports, was right next to us for the first 10 laps. His umbrella-holder/lackey was a most nervous chap. Minardi in for ther 1st pitstop.  Mark Webber, in Jaguar Racing's final Grand Prix, before his unfortunate collision with his teammate, Christian Klien.

Jacques Villeneuve's final race for Renault. Toyota exits pitlane into turn 2. Jaguar's final Grand Prix. Felipe Massa - Sauber Ferrari. Jenson Button - BAR Honda. Ralf Schumacher's final BMW Williams race.   Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren. As Michael Schumacher crashed on Saturday, the team practised pitstops for hours that night. They are the reason he's World Champion. Juan Pablo Montoya, Rubens Barrichello & Kimi Raikkonen pour the champagne on the podium at Brazil 2004.   Connie Montoya (who certainly doesn't look pregnant!) cradles her hubby's helmet next to his car, the final BMW Williams he'll drive in his career.  Me in Parc Ferme. The trophies are what it's all about.  This is the Constructors Winning trophy going to BMW. Me in the BMW Williams garage with the Constructors trophy on the car rear wing. Me with Nelson Piquet - 3time World Champ Me with Takuma Sato - BAR Honda Me with Jenson Button - BAR Honda Me with Mark Webber - Jaguar Me with David Coulthard - McLaren Mercedes

Me with Tony Kanaan - IndyCar champion The photographers are absolute animals when it comes to getting the perfect shot, here herding onto the track for the final lap and podium photos. The always classy Coulthard wrote his thanks to McLaren on the back of his Nomex. Michael, Corrina and David talk on Friday. Jarno Trulli looks over Senna's Lotus 98T. We took the Senna family's own helicopter to the track (note the AS in the registration). All strapped in, and flying over football match Sao Paulo vs Santos (SP won 1-0) 10/24. Say goodbye, Donkey.