Zoom 257 starts in Barcelona, Turkey or Monaco...

Honda on Monday clarified that Rubens Barrichello will not celebrate becoming the most experienced driver in formula one history this weekend in Spain.

The sport's official website claims that the 35-year-old Brazilian has entered 256 Grand Prix; the same number as current record holder Riccardo Patrese, who set the mantle in 1993.

But in a press communique, Barrichello's current team points out that there is a "lack of consensus" amongst pundits as to whether he will officially start a record 257th race at the Circuit de Catalunya on Sunday.

"Rubens will celebrate the milestone ... at the Turkish grand prix on 11 May 2008," Honda announced, amid speculation that Barrichello actually wanted to mark the occasion in Spain.

The pundits' disagreement relates to Imola in 1994, where he was injured in practice, Belgium in 1998 - where he took the original start but was injured and could not re-start - and Spain and France in 2002, where he had problems before the formation laps.

The annual Grand Prix Guide, meanwhile, claims that Barrichello will not reach 257 races at Barcelona or Istanbul, but rather at Monaco at the end of May.

Source: GMM
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