Rubens>Irv
First off your comparison in absolute statistics is unfair because Irvine drove alongside Michael when the car was a POS and MS also didn't bag the title (except 00). Rubens drove the car when Michael bagged one title after the other. Another unfair comparison because Rubens is 9 years younger and was on top of his game when Irvine was already fizzling out. Yes indeed. 1999. The only reason Irvine got so close was because MS was on the sidelines and helped him. Having said that, Irvine would have actually won the title that year if Ferrari hadn't placed team orders on him before MS' accident or (alternatively) if the team had brought 4 tires to the pitstop in Germany. Neither of them got the title and both were distant #2 drivers to MS. But to say that either of them was clearly better than the other is a stretch. Financially however Irvine beat RB hands down. As well as in the life style/fun category. Irv the perv rocks! PS: Some insider source tells me that "the perv" would have been a fitting moniker for Rubens as well. Something that probably won't be mentioned in his tell all book...
This is the reason I like Irvine, and of course Mika. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=kucqLpjCv1w&feature=related
LOL, thanks, never saw that. Great! I like Eddie for the same reason I like Lauda: They speak their minds and are never shy to hurt the "party line". Hopefully something we'll find in Rubens' book as well.
It's actually "Rubens Barrichello - In the spirit of Senna and the Shadow of Schumacher" by David Tremayne. Quite good if you ask me. Again, openly biased as an RB Fan. MB
Irvine and Rubie each delivered a single performance that stands out with me. For Irv, it was Montreal '99. He stormed through the field after falling back for some reason I don't remember--I think pit related. He was on fire, and it seemed like every lap he passed someone in the final corner. The crowd loved it, and he came out of the garage after all the ceremonies and played to the fans, dancing around, etc. For Rubens, it was the wet/dry/wet/dry/wet Hockenheim GP in 2000(?). It was a masterful drive in extremely tough conditions. Most drivers went with rain tires, he stayed on dry and displayed his wet weather abilities. But like Andreas said, Rubens had the benefit of driving a better Ferrari than Irv. For the numbers nuts, how about this for parity: In 1995, while teammates at Jordan, Irvine & Barichello were nearly identical. Avg. Qualifying Irvine = 7.6 RB = 9.5 Avg. Finish (With DNFs removed. Both had a lot) Irvine = 7.2 RB = 6.8 Season Finish Irvine = 10 pts (12th) RB = 11 pts (11th) So, nobody was really kicking anyone's arse there. Both actually did fairly well considering the car wasn't any good yet.
Now on www.f1live.com Barrichello is talking about Austria, and that if he didn't pull over he thinks he would have been fired. Michael Schumacher has chimed back that Rubens was given equal equipment. And says if your fast your fast and that's what makes you a number one(I'm paraphrasing)also that no one can make you slow because of a contract.Whatever standing Ruebens had with Ferrari,the tifosi and his history down the line he's going to look like sour grapes, too bad.
That race was hard to swallow even for MS fans. The other post that pointed out that MS pulled RB on the podium to the top was true. He was a good soldier for Ferrari and did what he had to do. Back in the days when they were team mates I thought there were many times where RB shared his car set up with MS and then of course MS won the race. I have a soft spot for the guy and I hope it comes off in a positive way in his book and tells his story.
I think Rubens is going through a stage where he knows he's at the end of a long career that had its highs and lows, but no Championship. He's probably feeling a little forgotten and having salty thoughts about how hard he worked at Ferrari for the benefit of Schumi and the team. He signed the deal, but it's easy to cast a critical eye backwards. No doubt there is a part of him that sees what Massa is doing, and how he came within a breath of this year's title, and feel that should/could be him. Or that his contributions to the team are forgotten, sitting in a closet somewhere with all the other mementos from seasons past.
I just don't see any way for all of this to enhance Rubens' image. How many drivers have said "F-You!" to similar contract offers over the years? Crying about one more victory 6 years ago? Well, statistically the slate is even from that farce win Michael gifted back to him at Indy. I hope at some point in "Rubie's Big Tell-All World Tour Extravaganza" he delves into why he agreed to this arrangement at Ferrari in the first place, and what he truly hoped to accomplish by taking on a submissive role to Michael. I get the feeling Rubens is having delusions of a Kimi/Massa matchup where they both had a crack at the title. But he was driving under Michael. I'm really having a hard time holding on to any remaining respect for the guy. After all, the cheques have all cleared, he made his meager mark, and now he's trying to accomplish what exactly with all this tripe?
i know Rubens is the closest teammate MS had over his career. but then again, why is he whining like as if he was not given a chance? i mean, in a way thats true, but if he showed the pace he had like China 2004, Italy 2004, or Austria 2002, he would definitely given MS a helluva hard time, similiar like how Felipe gave Kimi a run for his money. but my point is, he's a clear no2 to MS, he's fast, but definitely not on the same league as MS is.
It gets better, this weekend they are both in a karting charity event in Brazil. Boy would I like to be a fly on that wall when they see each other!
Bloody hell I hate songs that get stuck my head, heres back at yer!! http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=N7BmrewitiA&eurl=http://www.wiisworld.com/wii-news/tiger-woods-pga-tour-09-box-art.html
No way, clearly eveyone in the F1 community thinks RB is washed up and would not want him driving their cars! LMAO GO RB!
Barrichello wins Brazilian karting contest = Honda’s Rubens Barrichello proved he still has what it takes to win, after clinching victory at the International Challenge of Go-Kart Champions on Sunday. The annual contest, which sees top international drivers compete against each other, was held at the Ingeles kart track in Florianopolis, Brazil. Barrichello, who is yet to secure a drive for the 2009 season, won the first race ahead of compatriot Lucas di Grassi, while Ferrari’s Felipe Massa took victory in the second race. Barrichello’s aggregate total of 36 points, however, proved enough to take home the winner’s trophy. Di Grassi finished second in the standings, ahead of Massa, whilst seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher, who won the event last year, finished in eighth. Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer, Force India’s third driver Vitantonio Luizzi and former Jaguar and Prost driver Luciano Burti were also in action
Also whining about Schumacher being too aggressive! Michael responded by saying that Reubens complains whether he wins or loses.
