At least Sato has 'balls' - BAR's Jock Clear

Imperial83 hasn't taken the bait, so I'll add one to it:

I think it'll be interesting to see how Sato develops over time. Remember Ralf? He started his F1 career with many stupid crashes (even took out Michael once, which I believed added to Michael not winning the title that year, talk about brotherly love...) and then became a fast and clean driver. But unfortunately lost all his aggression and it shows in his follow the leader non passing style.

So if Sato could keep the speed, lower the incident level and keep his aggression, he might be on to something. Just thinking about this I realize what a fine line there is between crash and successful pass.

 

...a REAL fine line sometimes.....

I made it inside on two occaisions that come to mind.
Once breaking both front wings simultaneuosly, the left one on a competitor's car and the right one on a track edge hay bale...

The second one I moved the competitor's car off to the right as my left tire scraped the ad banner off the concrete wall. I still have the wheel rim and where it's bent flat there's a piece of the plastic of the ad banner... The track announcer went nuts on that move...

made both passes stick, too!

Both events were a hair's width from disaster.

 

Alonso also tore an F1 car to bits in an early race...pieces flying off and he jus' kept on truckin'......

 

Wow not only does BAR Honda need to find a real racing driver they also need to work on their public relations skills. So Sato's own team engineer says Sato must be good, PSK believes he has the "balls". PSK I wish all marketing campaign targets were as gullible as you are. It would make life very easy for people doing business. Obviously Sato's own engineer is going to say Sato is good. What do you want him to tell how much hates Sato for destroying all those aero parts and causing engine failure.

Yes good, Sato has "Balls"

... and atleast a half dozen destroyed Honda engines to his name. Yes but he has balls, and he can have the balls.

Smart racers like Michael will win world championships and smart teams like Ferrari will win constructors titles.

BAR can enjoy Sato's "Balls" and the $100,000 it costs them every time Sato shows his "Balls"!

 

Read an interesting article by Peter Windsor in F1 Racing magazine in which he mentions, that Sato clearly did a false start in Monaco and was about to get penalized for it (so far I only heard this as a rumour and wasn't believing it). That does take away some of the glamour I have to say.

OTOH I start to doubt what Windsor is saying: If you read the article about Schumacher, it becomes very obvious that Windsor is a huge and biased fan to the point where he makes him a god. Not good credentials for a reporter.

 

Yes, that is correct and they where about to call him (I assume a drive-thru penalty) in but his engine blew up!

 

Imperial83, why do you hate Sato so much?

 

I don't hate Sato but I hate the fact that he is blocking better drivers like Anthony Davidson and Timo Glock by occupying an F1 race seat. They have shown time and again that they are more talented and deserving than him.

 

Really, I haven't heard too much about either of them?

 

Glock gave a great F1 debut in Canada when he sat in for cash strapped Pantano and Davidson regularly outdrives everybody on Friday's practice (given all the caveats for what that is worth).

I'm not joining Imperial83 in his opinion about Sato, but do think that Glock and Davidson deserve a closer look. Either of them could probably drive circles around the Baumgartners of this field.

 

Ralf - clean and fast? messy and dangerous are more descriptive!!! and the "stupid" crashes have not ceased... Sato is great fun to watch.

And we know Sato is even more fun because enjoying his feats gets a rise out of imperial83 which is also fun!!!

 

I agree for this year where Ralf drives again as if he is back in his rookie years. But look at the previous years, like e.g. his victory in Imola. I think Pete said it best by describing him as a very fast test driver meaning he is fast when in front. Kinda like Damon Hill and doesn't know how to pass.

 

I think Sato is doing a superb job, and the fact that his engines' keep blowing as a result of his driving is up for argument. BAR/Honda have admitted to putting "test" parts on Sato's car.

Imperial83, I just think you have a real hatred for this guy (Sato). Why don't you ever complain about Zsolt Baumgartner (sp?)?

 

I'm not speaking for Imperial83, but my answer would be, that Zsolt doesn't actually take away much, because the Jordan is an end of the field car.

To go a step further you could even argue, that Zsolt is doing a good thing because his money helps provide a cockpit for Heidfeld.

As far as Sato goes, I think he deserves his seat. And even if he wouldn't the fact that he "provides" the powerful Honda engine to the team and thus to Button is a good thing in itself.

Let's face it: As a team manager I'd rather have one star driver and one guy paying for it than two star drivers and no $$$ to buy them equipment.

 

That's F1 man. Money walks.

 

Zsolt Baumgartner: I don't complaim about him or Gianmaria Bruni because it is very hard to judge their talent driving the Minardi cars. It is difficult to say how talented they are if they drive a car that is so slow compared to the other cars.

Coming back to Sato. As I said before BAR would have had a much better season if they had Anthony Davidson in the race seat instead of Sato. BAR had Honda engines before Sato came along. They were doing good progress with Jacques Villeneuve putting in all the hard work. Now, here come Sato backed up by a big Honda pot of money. Picking up on all the development work of Jacques Villeneuve and Jenson Button. I am not saying Jacques Villeneuve was the right man for the job. Jacques was not focused enough to keep the job and Button completely outshinned him in 2003. All I am saying his replacement should have been someone like Anthony Davidson and not Takuma Sato.

Yes rightly said, in F1 money walks. But it does not walk far enough when you actually have tofight for podiums and points.

 

Watt, I have to jump in here. I think you meant to say "Sato" at the beginning of your statement. So you are saying that when Sato leaves a path of shreaded carbon fiber it "is great fun to watch". But at the same time you say that when Ralph used to do it, he is "messy and dangerous"? "Why do you hate" Ralph "so much?" Obviously you did not see any of the USGP practice (nor have you kept an eye on Ralph). Sato speared a Sauber with a completely idiotic stupid, stupid move - IN PRACTICE!!! He just smiled, shrugged his shoulders, and said the "other guy got in my way", yuck, yuck, har, har. What little respect I had for him, went south out the window at that point. The guy is an *******. Go watch NASCAR if you like that kind of "ballsy" crap. It has no place in F1. Developmental parts? BAR PR machine working overtime. "Ok guys here's the plan, lets blow 6 races and Team points with developmental parts for Taku and just let Button take care of the Driver and Team points." Do they know how stupid they sound with that spin? The $$$ for the Team points are precious - and there are people out there who believe this stuff??!?!

As far as Ralph not being able to pass. There have been many cases (this year even) where Ralphy lost a nose or started out of the pits and made some pretty inspired drives to the points. I have always liked the way he could bring a noncompetitive car home in the points. As you said Tifosi, like Damon, he is vey quick when leading. But he has to have a very good car to be competitive at the podium level. He is not one to wrestle with a car and hang it out there for that extra tenth.

Jim

 

Sato gets Ferrari drive in 2008. It could happen Both BAR and Honda have said he is a great test driver and is greatly responsible for the over all speed of the car. he's fast, talented and the Jordan is at the back of the pack since losing him.