| Author | Message | ||
| John Moretti (Moretti)
New member Username: Moretti Post Number: 43 Registered: 11-2001 |
Eddie Irvine got all his success from Schus hard work in testing, feedback, etc. Look at how Jaguar are going now that Webber has arrived and they are doing proper testing and have their own windtunnel. Irvine was too full of himself and was a middle ranked driver in a top ranked car which dragged him up to make him look better then he was. Alonso, Kimi and Webber are the real deal, Alonso in particular is the best new driver | ||
| PSk (Psk)
Member Username: Psk Post Number: 347 Registered: 11-2002 |
Sorry Andreas, but if Irvine had won that championship that would have been the most undeserving championship since the first car puttered down a race track! Irvine might be able to put in the occasional quick lap but, a little like Rubens, it takes a whole race performance to be a winner. Watching him fade into the distance lap by lap just showed that he was struggling keeping the car on the road and was not championship worthy. Rubens on the other hand has always had 2000 times more natural ability and has worked on keeping the fire burning for the whole race and is really getting there ... and probably now a worthy champion. I have Irvines 'Racing into the Red' biography and his whole attitude to racing is not professional and looking like a hero in the Japanese F3 (or F3000, not sure?) championship does not mean much to the rest of the world, as the Japanese have yet to produce a really world class driver (and I hope they one day do) and thus drivers go to Japan to look good and make a little money ... Like Mansell, his English moaning and scoffing comments really do not bring a team together ... look how he made Jaguar go even further backwards. So yep he won a few races and had some really good performances and got a deserving second place in a championship (yes deserving as anybody that can get position in the championship deserves it, but he was driving one of the best cars so should have got second ...) and he drove for Ferrari ... not a bad career and as good as it was going to get. Good on you for being a fan and all but I do hope that Eddie shuts up as critizing Schumacher does not make him look any better ... infact if Schumacher was so bad what does that make him ... And all these attacks on Schumacher (even Stewarts) are totally undeserving, the guy HAS won those races and WON those championships and we all sat there admiring the driving ability, and YET WHEN HE MAKES A MISTAKE everybody jumps out and abuses the guy. What a bunch of shallow wankers we critics are ... Pete | ||
| Jack (Gilles27)
Member Username: Gilles27 Post Number: 698 Registered: 3-2002 |
I have to admit that one of the best races to watch was that year's Montreal event. Irv was all over the place, passing like a madman to finish 3rd, I believe. Afterwards, with the crowd cheering crazily across the pits, he came out of the garage and danced for everyone! Anyway, I recall reading in the past that, with Schumi out, the team found themselves unable to rally around Irvine in support of a title run. In my opinion, that indicts Eddie. I'm sure it must have been deflating to lose a driver like MS, but to throw in the towel on the entire season because of it doesn't speak well of him or his perception by the team. I like to hear drivers speak their minds. Eddie's problem has always been that of trying too hard to stir the pot, and sounding attention-starved in the process. Rather than stick to his sense of humor, he makes unnecessary personal attacks. After years of "talking the talk", he's never really "walked the walk" to back it up. | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 748 Registered: 10-2002 |
Not totally convinced by your argument, Jack. Jean Todt was in tears at Silverstone and thereafter pretty much gave up on the team. The team really let Irvine down, remember also, that he had to break for Schumi earlier in the season and was screwed by the missing tire at Nuerburgring. Many points wasted that way (ok, Schumi also gave him Sepang on a silver platter). I don't think Irvine's attitude had anything to do with his WC loss. It was more that the team let him down, or didn't believe in him although up to that point he was the driver who came closest to MS (by today's standards RB got closer). Irvine's failure was, that neither him nor Salo could develop the car any further. However it is hard to say, where the fault laid, either with him or the team. However if you look at the non development at Jaguar it probably lay with him. But I don't think his attitude was the issue. If anything it was MS attitude who didn't want to give the 21year breaker to the #2 driver. I think MS settled mentally for the constructor's title, but didn't want to support Irvine in the way he needed in Suzuka to clinch the title. MS didn't resist Hakkinen's passing for a second. Unfortunately neither did Irvine...so his WC loss was partly self inflicted. Nobody ever said being an Irvine fan was easy. But I still like the guy.  | ||
| Jack (Gilles27)
Member Username: Gilles27 Post Number: 695 Registered: 3-2002 |
Andreas, that's true, but that arguement is the same as what we have said about DC for years; Look how close he was in a dominant car. Bottom line is, he lost. If he wasn't such an arrogant a**, the team would have rallied around him in support of the championship. Since he picks his friends and alienates all others, they were content to give him 90% and no more. Had Rubens been in seat #2, I guarantee he would have had full team support for the championship. | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 741 Registered: 10-2002 |
Jack, Matt, pls don't forget how close he came to winning the WC. With a tad more support from the team, he would have clinched it. A simple engine failure on Hakkinen's Mc Laren in Suzuka would have done it. NOT a situation Rubens has ever been in. And probably never will. I like his refreshing big mouth. At least no corporate talk coming out of it. | ||
| Jack (Gilles27)
Member Username: Gilles27 Post Number: 692 Registered: 3-2002 |
In the case of athletes, we're accustomed to using or hearing the expression "waste of talent". In the case of Eddie, I think "waste of personality" applies. If only his opinions belonged to a driver who had talent. Sounds to me like the idea of nobody caring or talking about him isn't sitting too well. | ||
| Matt Karson (Squidracing)
Member Username: Squidracing Post Number: 449 Registered: 3-2001 |
During his career, the best part of Eddie was shooting off his mouth. Too bad that no talent couldn't even HELP in the development of the Jaguar. Take the money Eddie, then shoot off your no talent mouth. | ||
| Anthony_Ferrari (Anthony_ferrari)
Junior Member Username: Anthony_ferrari Post Number: 233 Registered: 11-2002 |
Even though he's not driving Eddie is still refusing to keep his opinions to himself. Good on him! http://www.pitpass.com/news2/news.cfm?newsid=5483 |