I hadn't thought that Michael might be sand-bagging, but now
you mention it, it seems more than plausible. Bad news for the rest of the
field, especially when they get Rubens in a new car, too!
As to J.P.M.: he is exciting to watch, you can't deny that! But, as I wrote
somewhere else, he's more fun to watch than to listen to. I believe he is as
talented as anyone driving today, including Michael. But it isn't likely that
he will change his personality any more than any of us.
Michael, love him or hate him, is always looking AHEAD: to the next turn, the
next lap, the next race. And when he has a problem, he always apologizes (in
public, at least) to his crew (he knows who has to deliver before he can
deliver) which he says he "let down." And he always says he'll do
better in the next race. What makes him great is that he does better in the
next race. I think Eddie Irvine, some time back, said something like,
"Michael! When are you going to retire and give the rest of us a
chance?!!" It doesn't look like it will be soon enough for Eddie, though.
If I were on the boards of Ford or Honda, there would be some real sparks
flying right now; that's for sure! I am really disappointed, but I guess there
are some problems that just can't be solved with money. Funny, but you'd think
Nikki would know that by now. (I'll bet it's no fun in the Jaguar trailer
where only one guy gets to wear a red cap!) Ah well, at least he's still
coming to the races unlike another great champion who has managed to get a
whole country mad at him! Cheers, Heretic --and Keep up the straight talk -
Jim W - USA (Reference Heretic 4-07 - Was
Michael trying ?)
The Heretic replies:
Hi Jim,
There is no denying that Montoya is exciting to watch. I
just worry that too much excitement means that we only see him for a lap or
two before he takes himself or half the fleet out with him.
Yes, it may be great for Ferrari but oh so boring for us
spectators if they turn out to be dominant. On the other side it may be the
only way that Barrichello will get on the podium.
As you say, love him or hate him, Michael is nothing else
but the ultimate professional. He uses every opportunity to get just a little
further, motivate the team, demoralise his opposition, confuse the other teams
– all of it to make it easier to win the next race, this season or the next.
Yes, Honda and Ford boards must be wondering why they
ever started. But then, that is motor racing where everything that can go
wrong does so with monotonous regularity. They must pay Lauda a lot to suffer
the indignity.