| Author | Message | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 2334 Registered: 10-2002 |
Jim, it looks like Kimi Raikkoenen. | ||
| PSk (Psk)
Member Username: Psk Post Number: 975 Registered: 11-2002 |
Mark, Good reply ... I am going to try and explain my view and lets see what you think. My view is that TV and sponsorship is actually harming the sport of racing. Why? Lets think about what makes the 4 good teams so good compared to the others. Money from sponsorship is the answer. There are atleast 2 solutions: 1. More money. 2. Less money and technology. The problem with the more money solution is that sponsors only want to sponsor the successful teams thus they just get better and better and the gap widens. Thus less money is the real solution to return to racing for real instead of a moving bill board. - Less money would mean we could reduce the size of the wings (reducing sponsorship space) and thus have more passing. - Less money would mean we would eliminate traction control ... because it costs money. - Less money would mean that we would have real talented drivers instead of corporate puppets. - Less money will not stop passionate motorracing people coming up with clever solutions to going fast ... to some there is nothing more important, and that it the sort of people that should be involved in F1. That is why I am so anti this 'it is all for TV and a show' stuff, because it actually isn't, just like the Olympics is not for TV or for fun, but way, way bigger than that. Do you think that MS dreamt about becoming famous and then decided that the best way of doing this was becoming an F1 driver? Ofcourse not ... What I would like to see return to F1, and ALL racing series, is that racing has control of the rules not TV and thus money. If this means that the cars become much simplier and slower ... so be it. When you look back at all the great races in the old days ... you were watching racing for racings sake ... and money was NOT involved, those guys were not racing to make money (or screw the latest F1 junky chick) but to prove they were the fastest and the best!!!. That is what we need to return ... and that is why I am a big fan of MS. MS loves racing and I bet you if we removed the huge salaries he would be the ONLY driver that would still turn up ... and still go as hard! TV and thus Money and thus Professional sports have actually reduced the quality of sport we all used to be able to watch. Look at Rugby ... no where near as much passion as there used to be, after all it is just a job now. Thus in my opinion we are all sitting back thinking it is wonderful that we can watch these sports on TV from all over the world, but this process in itself is actually at the detriment of the sport we so love. IMO Bernie is destroying F1, not saving it. In the end if the drivers are not racing to win, without stupid rules interferring with the outcome, they are NOT racing at all  . A reverse grid (of our current rules) simply gives the weak or less talented drivers a chance of interferring with a talented person being allowed to demonstrate his skill ... all just because some of us do not enjoy watching MS pushing his Ferrari to the limit for lap after lap. ps: Remember SPA last year (or the year before), when MS just destroyed the field ... after everybody was saying that RB was getting closer and MS was losing it. MS obviously went out to prove a point and put RB so far back in his place that I am surprised he did not quit F1 on the spot. It was brilliant to watch, lap after lap on the limit, lap record after lap record ... and on a dry track he pulled out such a huge lead he could have got out of his car in the pits and played a game of hide and seek with his children and still won. Do we want to f**k with the rules so we never see pure driving like that!! ... I don't, I want all drivers to be that passionate, that skilled ... Pete | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 6433 Registered: 12-2000 |
I was starting to become more of a Juan fan, but I was really turned off with his interview as he was walking out the track. Greatness is defined as much in the bad times. | ||
| Frederick Thomas (Fred)
Member Username: Fred Post Number: 824 Registered: 2-2001 |
Ali would have beaten Joe Louis or Rocky Marciano  | ||
| Michael Yurinko (Gage)
Junior Member Username: Gage Post Number: 86 Registered: 8-2002 |
I'm so tired of guys talking about JPM's attitude. You try doing what he does for a living and lets see your attitude. You think MS has it all together? How about that emotional breakdown during post race interviews a few years back? Monza, was it? Yeah that's healthy! It's a very stressful business. Everyone deals with it in their own fashion. Who gives a •••• what they say to the press! I respect every driver out there for what they do on the track. Christ, all we do is watch! Shut up and enjoy the sport. | ||
| Jim Avery (Boxer12)
Member Username: Boxer12 Post Number: 296 Registered: 6-2003 |
Who is this?  | ||
| A.Tonokaboni (Senna1994)
Junior Member Username: Senna1994 Post Number: 145 Registered: 9-2002 |
Thanks Pete, I feel the sameway as you. After all MS won his first race as well in 92 at SPA with changing weather conditions against the all conquering Williams. | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 2317 Registered: 10-2002 |
Ah, another supporter of reverse grid. Good. During a break at Indy I went to a bar where Speed was showing the 73 German GP at Nuerburgring. Talk about a race track! Yes, reverse the grid, keep all other rules as is (ok, do away with the stupid safety car) and go back to real race tracks! Forget Indy, it sucks. Forget the new Nuerburgring, give me the old Nordschleife and Watkins Glen. That's racing! | ||
| Mark (Study)
Member Username: Study Post Number: 872 Registered: 10-2001 |
"How pathetic (IMO) ... it is NOT supposed to be an interesting TV show, Mark" Yes but it could be! Gee we could add fun. Now who wants that. Yuck! LOL Instead of 4 good teams and a bunch with no-chance at all! You put on a better show and get more sponsors and fans... you end up with more teams and more competitive teams. 20 cars? 4 teams capable of winning? I'd like to see 30 cars and 10 teams that could win on any given day. Then you get "passing" something that other races have. But F1 is not smart enough yet to figure it out. So I pray for rain or (like the UK race) something to go wrong. Breaks up the qualifying parade and I get to see some racing... in F1 imagine that? To understand racing you have to understand marketing and the sponsors dollar. Or you can pine for the 1950's when racing was pure. F1 is now a good show. But it could be a great show! You need the PASS. To get the pass, you need more top teams. Where is Porsche?(then it would be real race) Porsche is not in because it won't help the USA market sales. How do you get all this? Better racing equals more market and more money get more teams up to competitive level? F1 is lame in USA because its dull to watch on TV. Maybe? Would you like to see Porsche and Ferrari and Audi all finish 1 2 3 with-in .006 of a second across the finish line? If F1 was more important in USA other teams that see this as a huge market would have to get in? F1 can only be justified as a car marketing tool. That is why the companies spend all that money. How do you start? Reverse Grid. We need some action! Then watch it grow and get better then you could ever imagine. I know some of you love F1 the way it is. And see it more as a religion. You guys are having a great time and that's cool. But you can't have a debate if we all get on here and agree to agree. Just trying to spice things up. | ||
| Warren Dodge (Spiderman)
New member Username: Spiderman Post Number: 48 Registered: 11-2001 |
Stick a fork in him, he's done. Finally. The pimple that he is on MS's @$$ has finally popped. | ||
| Jim Avery (Boxer12)
Member Username: Boxer12 Post Number: 282 Registered: 6-2003 |
Isn't it ironic that everyone was talking about how MS suffers under pressure and he blows the field away under perhaps the most pressure packed race in years! Montoya, on the other hand, completely fell apart yesterday (OK, he made a good charge to get back into the c'ship at the end). Raikkonen and Trulli were both outstanding this weekend. Bravo to Barrichello for effectively disposing of Montoya by goading him into a mistake! I have to say that the Montoya fans really livened up the event. I was surprised at how many and how vocal they were on Saturday during warm up and qualifying. MS fans were comparatively restrained. The bulk of Montoya's noisy fans left early on Sunday, but those who stayed for the finish were good sports for the most part. I look forward to the rivelry for years to come. | ||
| Najib Amanullah (Najib)
Junior Member Username: Najib Post Number: 248 Registered: 4-2001 |
It is silly to say that the drivers of the past were better than todays drivers or vice versa. Like saying Ali would beat Joe Lewis or Rocky Marciano etc. Anyone can only try to be the best at that time. However, winning more races in ones career or the frequency of scoring points is a good indicator. Plus breaking almost all known records in racing history cannot be done unless the driver himself is damn good. Maybe the statistics buffs here can let fellow participants know who won most races in fewest appearances/years. | ||
| PSk (Psk)
Member Username: Psk Post Number: 973 Registered: 11-2002 |
A.Tonokaboni, Yes very difficult to compare drivers as you say. The only comment I will make is that MS has driven without traction control ... and was still briliant in the wet. Who is better, tough question and probably impossible to answer ... ? Was not really trying to elevate MS above Senna, more trying to point out to Mark that MS is on the limit and racing ... not just circulating as he thinks ... Pete | ||
| A.Tonokaboni (Senna1994)
Junior Member Username: Senna1994 Post Number: 144 Registered: 9-2002 |
Pete, you mention MS in the rain in SPA, he is fantastic in the Wet. Saying that Senna won his first race in 85 in Portugal (started on pole fastest lap) in the rain and the only traction control he had was his right foot. At the time in the Mid 80's there were many better drivers than now (Mansell, Prost, Rosberg, Lauda, Piquet). Those champions also had to handle manual gearboxes with 1,000 hp turbo motors a far cry from today. As I recall even Prost spun out in that race. As far as Senna having traction control at Donnington so did Prost/Hill. I agree that MS is one of the greatest wet weather drivers of all time but that does not put him ahead of other great drivers from different generations. If I seem biased I am so that is my 2 cents. | ||
| Najib Amanullah (Najib)
Junior Member Username: Najib Post Number: 247 Registered: 4-2001 |
JPM definitely would not make a good champion. Too much of a cry-baby and too arrogant. MS on the other hand has 5 under his belt, still looks like he wants more wins and has a cool, modest and pragmatic approach. Can you imagine the attitude of JPM with 5 world championships ......... uuugggghhh!!! Doesn't bear thinking about. I'm routing for Michael. And I'm relieved/glad JPM isn't going to get it this year. | ||
| PSk (Psk)
Member Username: Psk Post Number: 972 Registered: 11-2002 |
What you don't appear to understand Mark, is that MS does drive the car just a hair out of control ALL THE TIME. He is not clinical like a Damon Hill, he is the only driver of modern times that can drive flat out all race long ... that is why he is the best. That is why he was able to push Senna in '94. Also MS and Senna are have very similar wet weather driving abilities and as for that first lap at Donington ... briliant by Senna absolutely, but have you ever seen MS's wet Spa performances, etc. Your comments unfortunately are typical of many who watch motorracing but are unable to appreciate what they are watching, the ability and difficulty of what the great drivers do. That is the problem with F1, you need to really understand motorracing to get something out of it ... if you don't really get the sport, then you should watch the amature levels where they slide around (wasting time) and demonstrating their lack of ability (and the cars) all the time. TV show ... ha! Pete | ||
| Frederick Thomas (Fred)
Member Username: Fred Post Number: 823 Registered: 2-2001 |
It has been stated many times how much more excitment Schumacher shows about winning then a lot of other drivers. Even at this late stage in his career he is driven to win and after 70 of them still seems thrilled to win. I am not sure senna has anything on Schumacher in the rain and as far as the race in 93 or whenever where senna blew the field away am I mistaken or did his car have traction control while the othere cars did not. | ||
| PSk (Psk)
Member Username: Psk Post Number: 970 Registered: 11-2002 |
How pathetic (IMO) ... it is NOT supposed to be an interesting TV show, Mark. You have lowered the purity of one of the purest sports (ie. I am faster than you) to a mere TV show ... no wonder kids commit suicide nowadays as no longer do we have the spirit of true competition motivating us out of bed. Everything has to be for FUN ... so an American audience does get bored •••• F1 if that is all you all want it to be, stop it right now. Pete ps: Actually •••• TV not F1 ... TV ruins everything!!!!!!!!11 | ||
| Mark (Study)
Member Username: Study Post Number: 868 Registered: 10-2001 |
"Montoya lost this championship at Indy because of immature and stupid driving" If there was no Montoya there would be no fun in F1. Michael is good, but in a boring, machine like German way. This is a TV show for fun and entertaiment unless you are a racing hard-core guy. Zanardi, Montoya, Senna... I only tune-in to see things like Zanardi's off-track pass in CA to win CART. I like a guy like Senna that could fly in the rain (that was wild sh*t). Or a South American Driver that likes to slid and drive his car just over the limit, feeling more comfortable if the car is always just a hair out of control. If F1 was full of dull techy drivers with no emotion.. I think you'd see the fastest track times but lowest TV and fan ratings. F1 only exist to make money. Give me South American Hot shots any day. Michael is so good that he does 70 laps in a smooth slow motion, his hands hardly move and his car never slides. God that's dull to watch! It like watching Golf on TV. | ||
| PSk (Psk)
Member Username: Psk Post Number: 968 Registered: 11-2002 |
And I'll say it again: Kimi is a worthy champion, or atleast has the makings of one ... while Montoya is a hot shot, ocasional idiot behind the wheel. Lets think about this season, and the Indy race. Montoya is sitting in probably the best car in the latter half of the season and how many races has he won ... er, I think a pathetic 1 race this year. Come on guys you honestly cannot believe that he is ready, let alone able to be WC. Coulthard has won more races and performed as many daring passes ... and yet nobody has their head stuck in the sand about him. Montoya lost this championship at Indy because of immature and stupid driving. Kimi was magnificent ... and deserved to win as much as MS. I think Montoya will become another JV ... and fizzle very soon, and then I again will be wondering what all the hype about him was all about. Pete | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 2234 Registered: 10-2002 |
Mark, point well taken. A good friend of mine teases me for admiring JPM, he thinks JPM is the most arrogant schlob there is and he might be right (as I said, admiration for a driver's skill for me has little to do what I think of somebody personally). Together we met a F1 photographer in the UK who has actually met a lot of the drivers first hand. We asked him whom he thinks is the nicest and most unpleasant chap: DC won as the nicest guy and JPM as the worst guy. Of course my friend's teasing ballooned after that... When talking to 'grandfather', the old Ferrari mechanic Anthony introduced me to at the Imola GP, he had a few of his own opinions: He adored Gilles, loved Regazzoni for being a very social fellow, didn't like Lauda because of his arrogance and thought Alesi was an overhyped fool. PS: I sure remember your beach time with Mauro. Envy you for that one... | ||
| Mark Moon (Enzomoon)
Member Username: Enzomoon Post Number: 289 Registered: 4-2002 |
Andreas: Interesting insights...thanks! When Mauro Baldi spent time with us I asked his opinions of some of these folks. He was actually Michael's teammate on the Sauber sportscar team in 1990? Anyhow, he said MS was not arrogant at all but all of the media attention is likely to change almost anyone. I am not surprised by your impression of JPM...he has always struck me as arrogant. I will admit he is obviously one hell of a driver but sometimes I wonder about his judgement.... Regards, Mark | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 2231 Registered: 10-2002 |
Even when you 'meet' a driver in person, it normally is for a fleeting moment and you still can't make much out of it. From my brief stints with Michael, Ralf and JPM I would say MS was the nicest, Ralf fairly stressed and JPM the most arrogant. But hey, that's a very first and brief impression. Besides: I don't have to love JPM as a person to admire his racing. And I do like his arrogance when answering media questions. So refreshing. I rather have a bad boy, than a polished diamond, who expresses nothing. | ||
| Michael Yurinko (Gage)
Junior Member Username: Gage Post Number: 83 Registered: 8-2002 |
If you like JPM or not, you cannot deny his ability. Kimi is a good driver. A bit wet behind the ears. He needs to gain more experience. Alonso... put him in a Williams or Ferrari and watch out. Everyone has their reasons for liking or disliking a driver. Unless you've met the person, it's difficult to make perminant judgments. JPM is going for the throat just like MS and the rest of the field. Lets see what happens in America. | ||
| Andy Falsetta (Tuttebenne)
Member Username: Tuttebenne Post Number: 285 Registered: 3-2003 |
Andreas - agreed. I recall Frank Williams saying last year that if F1 needed the teams to run three cars just so the grid would be full (because of bankrupt teams falling out), he would have no problem griding three cars. If a team makes that kind of investment in the sport, they should be able to tell the people on their team what to do. | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 2208 Registered: 10-2002 |
Andy, as much as I like the humour in your statement, Williams actually have already given the title away twice in the past because of no team orders. Personally I don't understand that attitude. As much as I hate team orders, especially early on in the season with no real thread in sight (as it was last year in Zeltweg), I think they do make sense after all. Not very sportsmanship, but this is about winning a title for a team. And if you think about the earlier days of F1, it was common that drivers had to give up their cars to the guy with the better chances. | ||
| Andy Falsetta (Tuttebenne)
Member Username: Tuttebenne Post Number: 280 Registered: 3-2003 |
Andreas, Williams hasn't "cheated" as Frank puts it, because they're more honest than McLaren or Ferrari, its because they haven't been in the position where having team orders would have changed anything. | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 2205 Registered: 10-2002 |
As ticked off as I was at Zeltweg last year, James is spot on with all his comments. Unfortunately I can't counter Frank's statement with a wise note about the Williams/BMW team. Mostly because Frank is a true racer and doesn't believe in team rules and has shown this in the past. However it is a common thing in F1. Even Ron Dennis who falted Ferrari for doing this, should better remember how DC had to brake for Mika several years ago. | ||
| James Dunne (Audiguy)
Member Username: Audiguy Post Number: 288 Registered: 6-2003 |
Frank, Michael did not cheat last year. He might have done something that some of us felt was unethical but it was in no way cheating. I believe the deal at the USGP was a total screw-up by both he and Rubens. I still believe that Michael was going to give a good photo opportunity and Rubens inadvertantly inched ahead for the win.. Heaven knows, neither one of them were racing at that point. Cheating is breaking of the established rules and that did not happen. | ||
| Jim Avery (Boxer12)
Junior Member Username: Boxer12 Post Number: 224 Registered: 6-2003 |
Juan Pablo Montoya Colombian Formula One driver Juan Pablo Montoya has accused Heinz-Harald Frentzen of helping his fellow German and five- time world champion Michael Schumacher win last week's Italian Grand Prix at Monza - a victory that could have a major impact on the outcome of this year's title race. "He slowed me down at the decisive moment of overtaking," Montoya told Thursday's Bild newspaper. Williams driver Montoya finished second in the race behind Schumacher but now trails his Ferrari rival by three points with just two races left in this year's world championship. He was referring to what happened on the 40th lap of the Grand Prix when Frentzen, driving a Sauber which is powered by a Ferrari engine, slowed down to allow Schumacher to pass. Montoya believes he was then slowed down in three corners. "If he did it on purpose, it is cheating," said Gerhard Berger, the director of Williams engine suppliers BMW. BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen was equally scathing. "The driving of Frentzen was legitimate but not very skillful," he said. "At the time of the overtaking, he intervened in the result of the race." | ||
| Jim Avery (Boxer12)
Junior Member Username: Boxer12 Post Number: 222 Registered: 6-2003 |
"It's a long time since we've seen Michael under pressure like this on a regular basis. Michael is clearly wary of Montoya. He knows he's a tough fighter. And that's where Michael can show his Achilles heel, when he's under pressure. If he feels as though he's becoming the prey, then he gets ragged." -- Damon Hill, 1996 World Champion, predicting why he thinks Juan Pablo Montoya will edge Michael Schumacher for the World Championship My prediction: Hill will eat his words! | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Advanced Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 2995 Registered: 9-2001 |
As a BMW M5 and a Fiat BB512i Boxer owner I'm torn between the red and the blue. But, I like Montoya much better than Schumacher so I'm pulling for him and the Williams team this year. Schumacher cheated too much last year in the Austrian GP and USGP incidents IMHO. He should have been disqualified from both races IMHO. | ||
| Jim Avery (Boxer12)
Junior Member Username: Boxer12 Post Number: 211 Registered: 6-2003 |
It ain't going to happen. Sorry. | ||
| N'din (Abangdin)
Junior Member Username: Abangdin Post Number: 71 Registered: 7-2003 |
I want Michael to win the championship. Lord knows how Montoya will brag if he wins the title. No, after the accusations of cheating by Michelin, I don't think JPM should win the title. It wouldn't be right. | ||
| DL (Darth550)
Junior Member Username: Darth550 Post Number: 241 Registered: 7-2003 |
Hi Rick, It's David. Yeah, Don and I have torn up a road or two! Did you get a copy of their video (from the paddock)or are you talking about the one we received of us from the pace cars? Are you going to the Bentley unveiling on the 17th? If so, it would be great to catch up! DL | ||
| rick ramage (720)
New member Username: 720 Post Number: 23 Registered: 7-2003 |
i remember you well (except i can't recall your name). but i know you are good friends with don beck. are you and don still tearing up the roads together? i saw don at the stradale unveiling in beverly hills a few months ago. i haven't seen you since the F1 party BH ferrari threw a couple years ago. i watched the video of our last run at mugello. i clearly remember seeing you in my rearview mirror. then we go into that corner and the rest is history. crap. i went to fiorano (don and damon were there also) the next year and managed to keep the car on the track the whole time! hope all is well with you it was a nice surprise to hear from you  | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 2076 Registered: 10-2002 |
Coulthard took out Irvine in Suzuka???? What race was that? In 1999 Irvine had a chance at winning the title, but lost it when Hakkinen blew by him. I don't recall DC having anything to do with that (but I'm not totally sure, my memory is not getting better with age). What I do remember though was how disappointed I was about MS not putting up a fight with Hakkinen. If Michael had done the same thing to Mika he did once to Hill and tried on Villeneuve, Irvine would have gotten it. But maybe that was a bit much to expect. | ||
| DL (Darth550)
Junior Member Username: Darth550 Post Number: 239 Registered: 7-2003 |
Hey Rick, How have you been? Its been a long time since Mugello. Remember me, from the last turn you took in the 550??? If anything, Ferrari owes one back to McLaren. Remember when Coulthard took Irvine out at Suzuka to give Hakkinen and McLaren the championship? Drivers aside, if not Ferrari, I would rather have any team but McLaren get the championship. DL | ||
| rick ramage (720)
New member Username: 720 Post Number: 22 Registered: 7-2003 |
earlier in the seasonwhen JPM was well behind MS in points told reporters that he would not hesitate a second to make aggressive maneuvers with MS because he had not to lose and MS had everything to lose. i haven't heard him repeat these types of statements recently. of course i'm hoping/praying that ferrari will crank up their game and MS win again. however, if this isn't to be then personally i'd rather see kimi win it then JPM...wouldn't it be ironic if by japan MS happened to be out of the hunt and MS had an opportunity to take an aggressive maneuver involving JPM... i'd love to see the look on JPM's face during that event | ||
| PSk (Psk)
Member Username: Psk Post Number: 911 Registered: 11-2002 |
Andreas, Gee I am really hurt now, you did not have ME on your list ... Pete | ||
| rick catalano (Tatcat)
Junior Member Username: Tatcat Post Number: 104 Registered: 9-2001 |
ever been at a party and pickup a beer can, take a drink and find a cigarette butt in it. kinda like that. | ||
| Dave L (Davel)
Member Username: Davel Post Number: 309 Registered: 7-2001 |
How do I feel about JPM? I dont.... | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 1957 Registered: 10-2002 |
While putting on my fire resistant suit, here is my list of how I rate the drivers: 1) Michael 2) Alonso 3) Kimi 4) JPM ...ok, I'm hiding now. | ||
| PSk (Psk)
Member Username: Psk Post Number: 908 Registered: 11-2002 |
Michael,
It was not Kimi that spun at Hungary was it I still rate Kimi as a better driver. Pete | ||
| Andy Falsetta (Tuttebenne)
Junior Member Username: Tuttebenne Post Number: 235 Registered: 3-2003 |
I'm a Schumacher/Ferrari fan first but would welcome Montoya as World Champion this year. Michael should have the grace and humility that JPM has. I wish JPM a long successful career but prefarably after MS wins number six and retires. | ||
| Andrew H (Stokpro)
Junior Member Username: Stokpro Post Number: 111 Registered: 6-2003 |
I'd rather see someone else as champion than JPM. Kimi or Schumi as my champion candidate. | ||
| Michael Yurinko (Gage)
Junior Member Username: Gage Post Number: 79 Registered: 8-2002 |
PSk, How could you possibly say Kimi is more consistant? That's a good one, thanks for the morning chuckle. | ||
| Michael Yurinko (Gage)
Junior Member Username: Gage Post Number: 78 Registered: 8-2002 |
I would love it! | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 1929 Registered: 10-2002 |
CART champions going to F1 either sink (Zanardi, Andretti, Da Matta) or swim (Villeneuve, Montoya). And somebody who wins the Indy 500 and the Monaco GP knows a thing or two about racing. It showed again in Trading Paint this summer. If he'd be driving in NASCAR, he'd probably clean up the field. A natural racer. Yes, Ralph was super today and contraticted the argument, that you can't pass at Hungaroring. I still think this circuit is a bad joke, but you can indeed pass. So no excuse for anybody else. That's why I'm so frustrated about Ferrari: Schumi didn't finish 8th because he couldn't pass because of the circuit. He couldn't pass, because he couldn't pass. Sad. | ||
| Anthony_Ferrari (Anthony_ferrari)
Member Username: Anthony_ferrari Post Number: 365 Registered: 11-2002 |
Psk, when you say Ralph, I assume you mean Ralf (Schumacher) as Ralph (Firman) wasn't in the race. A friend of mine does a lot of karting in Florida and earlier this year JPM turned up for a race. He had no airs or graces and it wasn't a sponsor event with a load of cameras. JPM did win quite easily though! I guess it would have been headline news if he had lost! | ||
| PSk (Psk)
Member Username: Psk Post Number: 903 Registered: 11-2002 |
Ralph (except for Alonso) was the best driver today , amazing, if only he could do that every race ... was like watching MS of old. Pete | ||
| rob guess (Beast)
Junior Member Username: Beast Post Number: 231 Registered: 5-2003 |
Andreas; I truly feel that MS will finish second. it could be that after Rubens suspension failure today it looked as if Michael might have been told to baby the car. It is hard to say but i have noticed that in the last few races it seems that the last 10 laps the Michael became more agressive, but not today. Rob | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 1925 Registered: 10-2002 |
Rob, it is sad that we're now in a guessing game over whether MS comes 2nd or 3rd in the WC. And quite frankly I'm not even sure he can keep 2nd place. There is absolutley no momentum in the Ferrariteam. PSK, how do you feel about JPM today? He kept his cool and stayed the course, didn't do anything too stupid (albeit he spun) and drove like MS drove the last few races, for points. Difference is, his car is faster. | ||
| rob guess (Beast)
Junior Member Username: Beast Post Number: 220 Registered: 5-2003 |
With 2 points separating the top 3 drivers anything can happen. Even though JPM did not look that great today (poor start and late race spin). He looked much better than MS. Kimi on the other hand did quite well great start and stayed out of trouble. At this point i feel that it will be JPM world champ, MS second, and Kimi 3rd. The only reason i am going with MS over Kimi, is the fact that i feel MS will not go down without a fight. Kimi on the other hand i feel will make a major mistake in the next 3 races that will hurt his chances. | ||
| PSk (Psk)
Member Username: Psk Post Number: 901 Registered: 11-2002 |
Hmmm, I do not think he has earned his stripes, but then we have a grid fill of also rans. I would rather Kimi won, as he has shown true championship material, Montoya has not ... inconsistent and irrational driving! In the end Ferrari and McLaren have lost this championship and Williams have got their act together at the right time ... thus as Ralph is never going to fight hard enough for the WC, it is there for Montoya's taking. We need a few more REAL drivers on the grid, and yes Montoya is a real driver but not a winner in my book yet. Pete | ||
| Mark (Study)
Member Username: Study Post Number: 704 Registered: 10-2001 |
I met and talked to JPM in the pits at Michigan Speedway durring his last year at CART. I always like to go to the races on Thursday when there are no crowds and you can get in the pits and talk to the drivers. Montoya was very relaxed and friendly. We talked for 20 minutes while his crew rebuilt his car for the second session. He'd talk to you like an old childhood friend. I had a great time, very real, very normal. Just like the guys you meet from F-Chat. Then Chip and Mario came over and I tried to strike up some chat with them. They said "Hi" but that was it. I will always remember how personable Jaun was. I was sad to see him leave cart and go to F1. He has made F1 more watchable, I want someone that might try the wild move on the track. | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 1906 Registered: 10-2002 |
Anthony, good point, very true (all of it). Yes, sadly he learned the sponsor dropping thing in the US. Reminds me of my fomer hero Mansell. What a great bloke that was and then he went to the US to become an Indychamp. After about a month I couldn't listen to his interviews anymore: They weren't about driving and racing, they became a contest in squeezing in as many corporate sponsors as possible. The thing I like about JPM is that he even swears in the rather dull and stiff F1 post race interview. What a guy! Give him a beer and I bet he loosens up completely. The sad thing about all this is, that I believe (partly based on some of your photos), that e.g. Michael is a great guy to party with too. He just doesn't show it in interviews. Very professional and very boring. I want James Hunt, Clay Regazzoni and Gerhard Berger back! | ||
| Anthony_Ferrari (Anthony_ferrari)
Member Username: Anthony_ferrari Post Number: 361 Registered: 11-2002 |
Actually JPM is a mixture of the corporate and the cocky. He never calls his car a Williams, he always says BMW-William F1 and he tries to mention as many sponsors as he can in interviews. He obviously learned this in the US when he was a CART driver. But he does speak his mind and he isn't afraid of a fight. As I said before I think it would be good for the whole of F1 if he became Champion, or at least came close. | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 1904 Registered: 10-2002 |
As you said Warren, you love him or hate him. Having followed F1 since 79 I haven't seen too many JPMs come and go. I agree, that he is a bit inconsistent and could have won more, but then again, he just learned that trick. Think about the 100+ races it took Mika or Rubens to get to that point. What I love most about the arrogant bastard is, that he speaks his mind. He is no Eddie Irvine, but the best we have at this moment. Can't stand the smooth Corporate sponsor talk we hear from our Ferrari boys (or the Mc Laren guys for that matter). | ||
| Warren Dodge (Spiderman)
New member Username: Spiderman Post Number: 46 Registered: 11-2001 |
You either love jpm or hate him. I fall into the latter catagory. Having been an F1 fanatic since the 72 season, I have seen my share of "montoyas" come and go. The sooner he is gone the better. If he were so great he would have won more than the few races he has. Too much hype with the little $#1t. | ||
| Anthony_Ferrari (Anthony_ferrari)
Member Username: Anthony_ferrari Post Number: 347 Registered: 11-2002 |
I think Ferrari are more likely to win the drivers championship than the constructors. I think the constructors will probbaly go to Williams. As for the Drivers I still think Michael will do it. If he can just cling on to the lead or near the lead over the next 3 races (Hungary, Italy, USA) then Japan should suit the Ferrari. I'm expecting a more powerful engine to be introduced at Monza, so that might help. A Montoya DNF in the next couple of races would be nice aswell! To answer the question, I like Montoya and I think it would be good for F1 in general if he were to be Champion. | ||
| Gilles (Gilles)
New member Username: Gilles Post Number: 13 Registered: 8-2003 |
Last time JPM has nothing to lost, now he's under pression... | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 1869 Registered: 10-2002 |
Good point about the memorabilia thing, hehe. Yup got his sig as well. Maybe we'll see Montoya clinch the title and Ferrari the constructors title? | ||
| Jack (Gilles27)
Intermediate Member Username: Gilles27 Post Number: 1321 Registered: 3-2002 |
I'd love to see Montoya win it all. I've always liked him as a driver. Besides, Ferrari have had an incredible run of success, and like you said, perhaps it would re-motivate them. On a secondary level, it doesn't hurt the value of some bits of memorabilia I have, either ;) | ||
| rob guess (Beast)
Junior Member Username: Beast Post Number: 177 Registered: 5-2003 |
Andreas; While i am behind MS all the way. I honestly think that JPM winning the championship will be ultimate wake up call to Ferrari. I just cannot wait till Indy. I can taste it so bad that i am starting to twitch and shake. No matter what the final outcome is, I can honestly say that we have not seen a topsy turvy season like this one for at least a half dozen years. I think it is great. Rob | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 1865 Registered: 10-2002 |
As much as I still have hope for Michael, I think Montoya will clinch the title this year. If he doesn't well, I'll be the first to celebrate the sixth MS title. But what if he does? How would you feel about Montoya as the new World Champion? Personally I woulnd't feel too distraught, I like the guy a lot, he speaks his mind and is terribly fast. And maybe losing to him would give Ferrari and Bridgestone the kick the back that would propel them to a better car for next year. Your thoughts? |