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Post by Lee on Dec 12, 2003 13:58:16 GMT -5
For Villeneuve fans... www.canada.com/calgary/story.asp?id=D183BEBA-BB02-4570-86CD-A1091E468E3FBILL BEACON Canadian Press Friday, December 12, 2003 MONT-TREMBLANT, Que. (CP) - Jacques Villeneuve said Friday he has not given up on Formula One, although the Iberville, Que., driver remains bitter after his parting with the British American Racing team. "You never know what will happen and whether an opportunity will come up," said Villeneuve, sporting newly dyed red hair. "I haven't shut it out so completely that if a good opportunity came up I wouldn't take it." The 1997 world champion found himself without a drive when BAR opted not to renew his contract at the end of the 2003 season. If no new drive in Formula One comes up, he said he may look at driving in the Le Mans 24-hour race or look at driving in the NASCAR series in the United States. "Career-wise, in open wheel (racing), I can only see Formula One," he said. "Le Mans would be a fun thing to do but I don't see it as a career thing. "What could be exciting is NASCAR, but I don't know because I haven't even looked at it. If I went into a paddock now, maybe after an hour I'd just want to escape. I have no idea." Villeneuve said he has spoken to NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon about the series, but no overtures have been made about joining the stock car circuit. "It's completely different from anything I've done before and that's a big part of the excitement," he said. "And it's very different from Europe. "In Europe, when you achieve something, it gives everyone else a reason to try to destroy what you've achieved. In NASCAR, it's the other way around. It's always been important to respect the establishment." So bitter had Villeneuve become towards BAR boss David Richards, he elected not to drive the final race of the F-1 season in Japan after he was informed he would be replaced by Japanese driver Tacuma Sato at BAR. Villeneuve was at Mont-Tremblant for the 24-hour ski-a-thon for charity that he and manager Craig Pollock have organized for the past three years. Former NHL defenceman Raymond Bourque is among the celebrities participating this year. Former F-1 driver Jacques Villeneuve speaks to reporters during a news conference in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Friday, Dec. 12, 2003. Villeneuve, who does not have a Formula One team next year, is here for his annual charity ski marathon.(AP PHOTO/Ryan Remiorz)
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Post by Kiro on Dec 12, 2003 22:26:07 GMT -5
Lee! Thank you for creating the thread ;D So Villeneuve's still trying to get a driver's seat? :red: I think he'd better retire. If he really thinks that F1 is his career, instead of driving the racing car, he can still try to do something for the sports. Maybe he likes driving, but those young guys like driving too and they can do better than him. :red:
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Post by Ilhame on Dec 13, 2003 6:22:14 GMT -5
F1 is nothing without him I hope he gets a seat, otherwise I won't be seeing him anymore.
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Post by Lee on Dec 13, 2003 13:14:22 GMT -5
Although he is not very loved here, he still has his place in a F1 thread. Schumi with his 2003 champion cup from: sina.com
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Post by Lee on Dec 13, 2003 13:17:04 GMT -5
World #2 Kimi with his financee.
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Post by Lee on Dec 13, 2003 13:18:14 GMT -5
World #3 Montoya and his wife Connie (?sp) Compare to Schumi and Kimi, Montoya and his wife are a bit casual
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Post by TennisHack on Dec 13, 2003 13:47:38 GMT -5
Shumi In other news Austrian F1 Jaguar driver Christian Klien, left, and his teammate Mark Webber, of Australia, pose for a photo during a test session at Montmelo race track, near Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003. Klien, a 20-year-old Austrian who had never driven a Formula One car before last week, signed Tuesday as Jaguar's No. 2 driver for the 2004 season. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
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Post by TennisHack on Jan 27, 2004 19:07:30 GMT -5
Schumi: A tough year ahead
Michael Schumacher says this year could be his toughest yet as he aims for a record seventh Formula One title. "I think the next one is always the toughest," the Ferrari driver said at the launch of his team's new F2004 challenger, picking out McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen has his most likely rival.
"It might be true that its going to be a little bit more difficult than it has been last year, although that's almost impossible. But we'll find out."
The German was taken down to the wire last year by McLaren's young Finn Kimi Raikkonen, with Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya's title challenge snuffed out in the penultimate race of the closest season in ages.
On his way to becoming the first driver to win six titles, Schumacher won six grands prix but struggled in qualifying and suffered the indignity of being lapped in Hungary.
By August, Williams were favourites for the championship. But a tyre controversy and a return to form at Monza set Ferrari up for a final push, with Schumacher taking the title at Suzuka after finishing eighth.
The 35-year-old said, however, that rule changes and a new points system had exaggerated the situation.
"I knew Kimi was a very good racing driver, he had a good car and was very consistent although you should ask whether with so many second positions he should actually at the end of the season be that close.
"Is that correct or not correct? I have my own opinion, and I think no," he said. "It's nothing to do with Kimi, that's a general matter. Regarding Kimi, I think he will do a very good job this year again."
GAME ON
Schumacher said he was confident his new car would be competitive and reliable from the start and also defended tyre supplier Bridgestone against those who suggested they would struggle this year.
"There's been a lot of discussion about tyres. If I'm correct, last year I think we won both championships with those tyres. So it can't be that bad," he said. "We have been looking very strong at the last test in Barcelona, so all in all I think we are ready for the game."
The new F2004 looks very similar to last year's F2003-GA whereas brother Ralf's new Williams has made news with a radical front nose unlike anything seen so far in Formula One.
Schumacher agreed it was interesting.
"If you talk to the designers, you hear that its a solution that some have tried before so its not completely unknown for them," he said.
"So it will be interesting to see how long it goes that way and whether other teams in the end find a solution and go the same route or not. It's an innovation but at the end of the day it has to be quick enough."
Reuters - 27/01/2004
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Post by Lee on Feb 18, 2004 19:19:32 GMT -5
A minor accident with Kimi Raikkonen's new car during test drive. Hopefully all problems will be fixed when the season begins.
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Post by TennisHack on Feb 18, 2004 23:40:17 GMT -5
Aggh, hope this isn't a sign of things to come! *looking forward to the start of the season*
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Post by Ilhame on Feb 19, 2004 4:40:20 GMT -5
The start is only a few weeks away I'll be up at 4 am
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Post by Ilhame on Feb 20, 2004 14:55:23 GMT -5
Did you hear Ralf is still negotiating his salary for 2004? He asked for $24.5 million. He's so not worth that much! ;D
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 4, 2004 21:36:26 GMT -5
Coulthard sees future with Toyota or Williams ALAN BALDWIN sport.scotsman.com/motorsport.cfm?id=257622004DAVID Coulthard has targeted Toyota or Williams to save his Formula 1 future after Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya replaces him at McLaren next season. "Toyota are a team that needs a winning driver," the 32-year-old Scot said before Sunday’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. "There is no question that they are moving forward. I would also love to drive for Williams," said Coulthard, who started his Formula 1 career in 1994 with Frank Williams’s team before moving to McLaren in 1996. "I will give 100 per cent to McLaren this year to try to win grands prix so that I can be on the grid in 2005 in the best possible seat available." Williams need to find a replacement for Montoya and could even have two vacancies for 2005 if Germany’s Ralf Schumacher, Michael’s younger brother, is not retained beyond the end of the season. Toyota have Frenchman Olivier Panis, at 37 the oldest driver on the grid, and Brazilian Cristiano da Matta. The Japanese, starting their third season in Formula 1, are generally reckoned to have the biggest budget of anyone and are seen as future champions. Coulthard’s tally of wins - 13 in 157 starts - is second only to Michael Schumacher, who has a record 70 victories, among active Formula 1 drivers. "I am 32 years old and I don’t see anyone who is doing more in terms of being professional and being prepared to deliver, so I see no reason to consider that it is time to do something else," he said.
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 4, 2004 21:38:52 GMT -5
A less polite article from crashnet :red: DC looks to Toyota and Williams for 2005. FRIDAY 5TH MARCH 2004 McLaren-Mercedes reject David Coulthard has admitted that Toyota or Williams would be a good move in 2005, when Juan Pablo Montoya takes over his drive at the Woking based team. Speaking to the media in the build up to the Australian Grand Prix, the Scot added that there was no need for him to be a ‘rude c*** in order to gain respect'. DC told British newspaper The Sun: “If I have a strong season this year I have no doubts that I will be in a good team for 2005. “Toyota are a team moving forward and one that needs a winning driver. They are committed to the long term. And I would love to drive for Williams. This season it's in my hands to show I can still do it so I can be on the grid in 2005 in the best seat possible. “Taking something lower down the grid isn't a realistic option. “Only Michael Schumacher is doing more than me in working with a team. Of all the drivers this year I am second to Michael in average points scored. I enjoy what I do and I'm good at it.” Coulthard added: “I knew last July that Montoya was coming to McLaren and I didn't find it as dramatic as some people are making out. It's not as if I caught the missus cheating on me. I'm not married to McLaren and, inevitably, after nine years there will be a natural point to move on. “Formula One is my passion not McLaren or boss Ron Dennis. I dream about winning Grands Prix - not McLaren or Ron. I have never had the emotions towards the organisation that people felt I had. And I have always felt drivers are replaceable because F1 isn't a life career. “McLaren is a serious company and I know the rules of the game. There's no reason for me to throw my dummy out because this is a chance to seek pastures new.” “Some people would like to see me throw the steering wheel over the fencing like Nigel Mansell when things go bad or grab Schumacher by the throat,” continued the Scot, “but just because I don't doesn't mean I shy away from confrontation. I just don't go looking for it. “On the track I don't have a habit of coming off second best or moving over for a driver. It's been one of the confusing things throughout my life in F1: why do I have to be a rude c*** out of the car to gain respect when I have demonstrated what I can do in the car? “When I gave Schumacher the finger that was pretty good. Show me the last time someone has raced like that recently? What do people want, spikes in the wheels? “I won't be totally satisfied if I never win the title but I won't spend the rest of my life in the darkness of shame over my results. They are significantly better than many who have won the championship" So is DC right? Does he have a chance of joining Toyota or Williams in 2005? And in his own words does he need to be a 'rude c*** off' the track to win respect? www.crash.net/uk/en/news_view.asp?cid=1&nid=86589
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Post by Dissident on Mar 5, 2004 22:39:51 GMT -5
Webber just clinched the 1st spot temporarily. The crowd going nuts.
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Post by Dissident on Mar 5, 2004 22:42:39 GMT -5
Rubinho comes in and dizimates Webber's lap by 1.4 seconds. Woohoo!
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 6, 2004 19:26:13 GMT -5
Shumi got the pole Kimi is in 10th place on the grid. Not exactly the best way to start off a GP, but we'll see what happens.
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 6, 2004 21:43:55 GMT -5
First tragedy of the race: Kimi's engine blows on Lap 9. The Hungarian rookie also bows out in the first 20 laps. Ferrari leads, of course Alonso had a great start to the race and has been holding strong in 3rd after one pit stop.
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 6, 2004 21:45:32 GMT -5
Toyota also having a miserable race as well.
Trulli frustrating Montoya and keeping him pinned in 7th place.
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Post by Ilhame on Mar 7, 2004 13:48:44 GMT -5
I found the race rather boring and am not pleased with the result. McLaren AGAIN isn't reliable. Sauber is gonna be strong this season since they have good Ferrari engines now. I like that! Why did Jenson do well in the BAR and did Jacques always suck in it. Too many things I wonder about now after the first race
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 7, 2004 16:56:23 GMT -5
Australian GP results:
1. M.SCHUMACHER FERRARI 1h24'15"757 219.011 km/h 2. R.BARRICHELLO FERRARI + 0'13"605 218.423 km/h 3. F.ALONSO RENAULT + 0'34"673 217.519 km/h 4. R.SCHUMACHER WILLIAMS BMW + 1'00"423 216.424 km/h 5. JP.MONTOYA WILLIAMS BMW + 1'08"536 216.082 km/h 6. J.BUTTON BAR HONDA + 1'10"598 215.995 km/h 7. J.TRULLI RENAULT 1 lap(s) 8. D.COULTHARD McLAREN MERCEDES 1 lap(s) 9. T.SATO BAR HONDA 1 lap(s) 10. G.FISICHELLA SAUBER PETRONAS 1 lap(s) 11. C.KLIEN JAGUAR 2 lap(s) 12. C.DA MATTA TOYOTA 2 lap(s) 13. O.PANIS TOYOTA 2 lap(s) 14. G.PANTANO JORDAN FORD 3 lap(s) 15. F.MASSA SAUBER PETRONAS 14 lap(s) 16. N.HEIDFELD JORDAN FORD 15 lap(s) 17. G.BRUNI MINARDI COSWORTH 15 lap(s) 18. M.WEBBER JAGUAR 29 lap(s) 19. Z.BAUMGARTNER MINARDI COSWORTH 45 lap(s) 20. K.RAIKKONEN McLAREN MERCEDES 49 lap(s)
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 7, 2004 16:57:50 GMT -5
It was a crap race, but I'm glad to see Alonso held his own and kept his spot, holding off at least one of the Shumi's And at least Coulthard got a points position. Hopefully Mercedes will get off their asses, though, and get with the new car!
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 7, 2004 17:16:42 GMT -5
2004 Drivers Championship Pos Driver Nationality Team Points 1 Michael Schumacher German Ferrari 10 2 Rubens Barrichello Brazilian Ferrari 8 3 Fernando Alonso Spanish Renault 6 4 Ralf Schumacher German Williams-BMW 5 5 Juan Pablo Montoya Colombian Williams-BMW 4 6 Jenson Button British BAR-Honda 3 7 Jarno Trulli Italian Renault 2 8 David Coulthard British McLaren-Mercedes 1
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 7, 2004 17:17:29 GMT -5
2004 Constructors Championship Pos Constructor Points 1 Ferrari 18 2 Williams-BMW 9 3 Renault 8 4 BAR-Honda 3 5 McLaren-Mercedes 1
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 20, 2004 22:44:04 GMT -5
Round 2: Malaysia: Qualification Result
Driver Team Time Deficit Laps
1 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 01:33.074 3 2 Mark Webber Jaguar 01:33.715 +00:00.641 3 3 Rubens Barrichello Ferrari 01:33.756 +00:00.682 3 4 Juan Pablo Montoya Williams 01:34.054 +00:00.980 3 5 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren 01:34.164 +00:01.090 3 6 Jenson Button BAR 01:34.221 +00:01.147 3 7 Ralf Schumacher Williams 01:34.235 +00:01.161 3 8 Jarno Trulli Renault 01:34.413 +00:01.339 3 9 David Coulthard McLaren 01:34.602 +00:01.528 3 10 Cristiano da Matta Toyota 01:34.917 +00:01.843 3 11 Felipe Massa Sauber 01:35.039 +00:01.965 3 12 Giancarlo Fisichella Sauber 01:35.061 +00:01.987 3 13 Christian Klien Jaguar 01:35.158 +00:02.084 3 14 Olivier Panis Toyota 01:35.617 +00:02.543 3 15 Nick Heidfeld Jordan 01:36.569 +00:03.495 3 16 Gianmaria Bruni Minardi 01:38.577 +00:05.503 3 17 Zsolt Baumgartner Minardi 01:39.272 +00:06.198 3 18 Giorgio Pantano Jordan 01:39.902 +00:06.828 3 19 Fernando Alonso Renault 2 20 Takuma Sato BAR 1
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Post by Lee on Mar 21, 2004 0:02:03 GMT -5
Bjorn Wirdheim of Sweden, he doesn't look old enough to have a driver's licence
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 21, 2004 12:26:52 GMT -5
He's a cutie, though! (Or at least, he would be sans the bushy eyebrows). He looks like he's about 20 in my estimation.
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 21, 2004 12:38:49 GMT -5
Final Results -- Malaysia GP
1. M.SCHUMACHER FERRARI 1h31'07"490 204.384 km/h 2. JP.MONTOYA WILLIAMS BMW + 0'05"022 204.197 km/h 3. J.BUTTON BAR HONDA + 0'11"568 203.953 km/h 4. R.BARRICHELLO FERRARI + 0'13"616 203.877 km/h 5. J.TRULLI RENAULT + 0'37"360 202.997 km/h 6. D.COULTHARD McLAREN MERCEDES + 0'53"098 202.418 km/h 7. F.ALONSO RENAULT + 1'07"877 201.878 km/h 8. F.MASSA SAUBER PETRONAS 1 lap(s) 9. C.DA MATTA TOYOTA 1 lap(s) 10. C.KLIEN JAGUAR 1 lap(s) 11. G.FISICHELLA SAUBER PETRONAS 1 lap(s) 12. O.PANIS TOYOTA 1 lap(s) 13. G.PANTANO JORDAN FORD 2 lap(s) 14. G.BRUNI MINARDI COSWORTH 3 lap(s) 15. T.SATO BAR HONDA 4 lap(s) 16. Z.BAUMGARTNER MINARDI COSWORTH 4 lap(s) 17. K.RAIKKONEN McLAREN MERCEDES 16 lap(s) 18. N.HEIDFELD JORDAN FORD 22 lap(s) 19. R.SCHUMACHER WILLIAMS BMW 29 lap(s) 20. M.WEBBER JAGUAR 33 lap(s)
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 23, 2004 0:38:29 GMT -5
2004 FORMULA ONE DRIVERS' WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (AFTER ROUND 2 OF 18)
POSITION DRIVER TEAM POINTS 1. MICHAEL SCHUMACHER FERRARI 20 2. RUBENS BARRICHELLO FERRARI 13 3. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA WILLIAMS 12 4. JENSON BUTTON BAR 9 5. FERNANDO ALONSO RENAULT 8 6. JARNO TRULLI RENAULT 6 7. RALF SCHUMACHER WILLIAMS 5 8. DAVID COULTHARD MCLAREN 4 9. FELIPE MASSA SAUBER 1
2004 FORMULA ONE CONSTRUCTORS' CHAMPIONSHIP (AFTER ROUND 2 OF 18)
POSITION CONSTRUCTOR POINTS 1. FERRARI 33 2. WILLIAMS 17 3. RENAULT 14 4. BAR 9 5. MCLAREN 4 6. SAUBER 1 7. JAGUAR 0 = TOYOTA 0 = JORDAN 0 = MINARDI 0
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Post by TennisHack on Mar 23, 2004 0:40:25 GMT -5
www.crash.net/uk/en/news_view.asp?cid=1&nid=87834Montoya slams Rubens' dirty move. MONDAY 22ND MARCH 2004 BMW WilliamsF1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has hit out Rubens Barrichello, accusing the Brazilian of blocking him in the closing stages of Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix, to help protect Ferrari team leader and eventual winner, Michael Schumacher. Speaking following the race, the Colombian, who finished second, 5 seconds behind the German, reckoned that he had been a victim of Ferrari tactics. "Towards the end," reflected JPM, "I was trying to catch Michael because I felt my car was just getting better and better. "Unfortunately, after my third and last stop I exited the pit lane behind Rubens. I went to pass him straight away but he blocked me. In a non-Ferrari, it's better to back off than try to.. you know, it's better to go home with eight points than out of the race." Speaking in the post-race press conference, Montoya added: "If I hadn't had Rubens in the last stint, I think we could have been quite a bit closer because at the end I was really cruising and I was under 36s – no problem – so it is a bit of a shame but there will be another time. I'm happy to go home from here with eight points - good for the team, good for myself." Asked if he had attempted to pass the #2 Ferrari and was he in some way rebuffed, Montoya replied... "Yeah, I think it was into turn four, I got a bit of a run on him and as soon as I moved he closed the door straight away and his pace backed off and the lap before he came into the pits he pushed again, so I lost a bit of time but that's racing." So was it a bit of a dirty move then? "Yeah, you know, I got a run on him and as soon as I went to move he moved and there was no point even trying to pass. There were 12 laps to go, I had new tyres so I just backed off and cruised." Barrichello and the Scuderia released no comments on the 'alleged blocking'.
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