The Minardi PS04B was a Formula One race car used by Minardi Cosworth in the 2004 Formula One season and the first 3 rounds of the 2005 Formula One season.

Minardi PS04B
Bas Leinders driving the Minardi PS04B during free practice for the 2004 United States Grand Prix.
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorMinardi
Designer(s)Gabriele Tredozi (Technical Director)
Sandro Parini (Chief Designer)
Loïc Bigois (Chief Aerodynamicist)
PredecessorPS03
SuccessorPS05
Technical specifications[1][2]
ChassisCarbon-fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque
Suspension (front)Upper/lower carbon-wrapped steel wishbones, pushrod-activated torsion springs/rockers front/rear, mechanical anti-roll bars + Sachs dampers (to Minardi specification)
Suspension (rear)As front
Length4,548 mm (179 in)
Width1,800 mm (71 in)
Height950 mm (37 in)
Axle trackFront: 1,480 mm (58 in)
Rear: 1,410 mm (56 in)
Wheelbase3,097 mm (122 in)
EngineCosworth CR-3L (updated 2002 specifications) 2,998 cc (183 cu in) 72° V10 naturally-aspirated rear mid-engine, longitudinally-mounted, steel crankshafts, aluminum engine block and heads and aluminum alloy pistons
TransmissionMinardi 6-speed + 1 reverse longitudinally-mounted semi-automatic gearbox with titanium casing, hydraulic activation (Magneti Marelli ECU, Minardi software) with Minardi hydraulic/programmable differential units
Power800 hp @ 18,000 rpm[3]
Weight600 kg (1,323 lb) including driver and camera
FuelElf
LubricantsElf/CPC
TyresBridgestone Potenza 4-line grooved dry slicks, treaded intermediate and full-wets
O.Z. Racing forged magnesium (13.0 in × 12.0 in (330 mm × 305 mm) on front and 13.0 in × 13.7 in (330 mm × 348 mm) on rear)
Competition history
Notable entrantsWilux Minardi Cosworth
Minardi Cosworth
Notable drivers20. Italy Gianmaria Bruni
20. Austria Patrick Friesacher
21. Hungary Zsolt Baumgartner
21. Netherlands Christijan Albers
Debut2004 Australian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPolesF/Laps
21000
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

Background

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In 2003 all of the Arrows A23 chassis and the full Arrows Grand Prix International intellectual property rights were bought by Minardi. The Arrows A23 was renamed the Minardi PS04[4] and in back-to-back tests it was found superior to the Minardi's PS03. Minardi however decided that they could not run a "pure-Arrows" and hence used the Arrows intellectual property, which included the new designs for a proposed Arrows A24[5] and the best elements from the PS03 and the Arrows A23/PS04 to develop the Minardi PS04B for the 2004 season.[6][7]

Period reports even hinted that the PS04B was possibly based more closely on the Arrows A23 than Minardi might have been prepared to publicly admit.[5][8]

Racing history

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The PS04B was driven by rookie Gianmaria Bruni, and Zsolt Baumgartner who had moved from Jordan. The team managed to earn their first point in two years, after Baumgartner finished 8th at the United States Grand Prix.

For 2005, Minardi used a PS04B chassis for the first three races of the season before they made a new PS05 chassis due to assembly problems. The engine name changed from CR-3L to CK2004, but it was basically the same engine.

Sponsorship and livery

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The team's black and white livery saw the addition of Superfund's deep green to the engine covers. The following season, it was removed.

During the British Grand Prix, the team ran with no sponsors, replacing them with the words "John Boy" in honor to Sporting Director John Walton, who died from a heart attack. At the 2005 Australian Grand Prix, the team celebrated 10 years of Melbourne holding a race at Albert Park; the logo was presented on the engine cover.

Complete Formula One results

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(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Points WCC
2004 Minardi Cosworth Cosworth V10 B AUS MAL BHR SMR ESP MON EUR CAN USA FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA CHN JPN BRA 1 10th
  Gianmaria Bruni NC 14 17 Ret Ret Ret 14 Ret Ret 18 16 17 14 Ret Ret Ret 16 17
  Zsolt Baumgartner Ret 16 Ret 15 Ret 9 15 10 8 Ret Ret 16 15 Ret 15 16 Ret 16
2005 Minardi F1 Team Cosworth V10 B AUS MAL BHR SMR ESP MON EUR CAN USA FRA GBR GER HUN TUR ITA BEL BRA JPN CHN 7* 10th
  Patrick Friesacher 17 Ret 12
  Christijan Albers Ret 13 13

* All points scored with the PS05.

References

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  1. ^ "Minardi PS04B car specifications". Minardi. February 2004. Archived from the original on June 29, 2004.
  2. ^ "Minardi PS04B Cosworth engine specifications". Minardi. February 2004. Archived from the original on August 12, 2004.
  3. ^ "Engine Ford Cosworth • STATS F1".
  4. ^ "Unveiled the Minardi PS04A". unracedf1.com (in Dutch). 2020-04-03. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  5. ^ a b "Minardi en de Arrows A24". formule1nieuws.nl. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Baumgartner signs for Minardi". motorsport.com. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  7. ^ "Minardi will not use the Arrows A23". www.auto123.com. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  8. ^ "Minardi PS03, A23 of A24?". frontpage.fok.nl. 12 November 2003. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
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