"Dave Hansen" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> > >
> > > Except Cipo already owns a Ferrari.
> >
> > But not one of _those_ Ferraris.
> >
> > BTW, how ludicrous (as if it wasn't ludicrous enough already), would
Cipo's
> > statement sound if it came out of Pantani's mouth?
>
> Probably pretty stupid since his driving exploits are well documented, How
do we know that Cipo
> DOESN'T know how to drive fast. Make it even, put both in a showroom
Ferrari.
> Dave
>
Knowing how to drive a street car fast and driving a F-1 car within 5% of Schumacher's lap times are
two entirely different things. Even Niki Lauda ('75, '77, '84 F-1 world champ) couldn't drive the
2002 Jaguar at close to a competitive time:
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines02/01/s8094.html
Niki Lauda got back into a formula1 car for the first time since 1999 (when he piloted the McLaren
two-seater car) in Valencia, Spain, today (Sunday). His last race took place in 1985. The former
multiple world champion is now the chief executive officer of Jaguar Racing, and is working towards
steering the team to glory after three difficult years.
Back in December he proclaimed that he would test today as the cars have changed so much that
it would enable him to better understand the feedback he received from Eddie Irvine and Pedro
de la Rosa.
Neither driver thought he would be able to match their lap times at the track, with de la Rosa
stating, as friendly rivalry, that he hoped the Austrian crashed. He also predicted that if Lauda
were able to get within four seconds of either driver then he would be doing well.
So far it looks like de la Rosa's wish has the possibility of coming true. Lauda has completed just
a handful of laps but has already spun the R2 twice, although he did not stall either time.
He did manage three timed laps before he called it a day at lunchtime, and progressively moved up
the time sheets starting off with a 1:31.180. He then improved to a 1:30.070 before finishing up on
a 1:29.480. Pedro de la Rosa's time around the same track in the R2 was a 1:14.000.
Valencia is a tight, twisty track designed for motorbike racing, and so is a difficult circuit for
him to debut on. His skill is in no doubt after taking part in 177 Grands Prix, winning 25 races,
taking 24 pole positions, scoring
420.5 points and securing three world championship titles.
However, technology has greatly moved on since the mid-eighties, and drivers can no longer manhandle
cars around the circuit. Smooth driving is required for these more nervous machines, and it can take
some adjusting to as former CART drivers who switched to formula1, Alex Zanardi and Juan Pablo
Montoya, can attest to.