Readers' Comments

Atlas F1

Readers' Comments

Updated: 15 January 1998 Winter Issue 2

At the end of a previous article, I asked for suggestions for actors for "Grand Prix - The Second Movie". Here is a list of your suggestions. Please don't blame me for any of the following names or comments, they are not mine.

Michael Schumacher - Adrian Edmonson playing the German Flying Ace in Blackadder Goes Forth or Arnold Schwarzenegger after a 3 month fast (the accent & the chin) or Jay Leno or John Travolta or Val Kilmer or River Phoenix (I know he's dead, but at least it'll make it easy to project Michael's vivid personality) - these are the words of one Juliane Schneider - shame on her!

Jacques Villeneuve - Dolores from The Cranberries or Billy Idol was first offered the role, but he was too smashed to undertake it, Johnny Depp gets the nod or Brad Pitt

Damon Hill - Mel Gibson or Jeremy Irons (declined the part, Benny Hill has accepted)

David Coulthard - Dolph Lundgren or Rutger Hauer or Christian Slater

Eddie Irvine - Tom Hanks (the mischievous twinkle in the eye) or Weird Al

Jean Alesi - Andy Garcia (introspective, emotional) or Topo Gigio or Jean-Claude Van Damme (Americans can't tell the difference between a French and Belgian accent anyway) or Ray Liotta

Alain Prost - Jackie Stewart

Jackie Stewart - Alain Prost

Jos Verstappen - Mickey Rourke (his fans are weird too)

Gerhard Berger - Mickey Rourke

Mike Hakkinen - the lead singer of Ah-ha or Keanu Reeves

Heinz-Harald - One of the younger Baldwin brothers

Johnny Herbert - Kenneth Brannagh or Hugh Grant

Pit crew for Benetton - the Spice Girls

Eddie Jordan - Richard Harris 20 years ago (the hair & the weird streak)

Jean Todt - Neumann from Seinfeld or Gerard Depardieu

Luca de Montezemolo - Al Pacino

Ron Dennis - John Lithgow (the dull and plodding look) or Kevin Spacey

Frank Williams - Anthony Hopkins or Christopher Reeves or Carroll O'Connor

Michael Andretti during his time in F1- Ray Charles (ouch!)

Tom Walkinshaw - Harvey Keitel (OK, the dark side of Walkinshaw)

Giancarlo Minardi - Marcello Mastrianni

Flavio - Raul Julia

Ken Tyrrell - Sir John Gieulgud (OK, maybe a little too regal)

Ecclestone - Marlon Brando (Both pompous pricks who did one brilliant thing -Streetcar Named Desire/F1 TV rights - and then proceeded to ruin it) MS Schneider again or Ray Liotta

Nigel Mansell - John Goodman

Ayrton Senna - Tom Hanks (same nose, both of Portuguese descent)

Michele Alboreto - Rowan Atkinson

With cameos of Enzo and Colin's ghosts played by Marlon Brando and Sean Connery, respectively.

Chris Balfe
ferrari@cableinet.co.uk


Does anyone have any news regarding Eurosport getting the broadcast rights for the '98 season?

Thanks

Earl Smith
earl.smith@ramstein.af.mil


New rules advantage for Schumacher?

In the '98 season, we well see a major rule change which makes cars more difficult to handle. Less grip on tyres, narrow chassis, less downforce, longer braking distances, difficulties to find the right brake balance, car responding more surprisingly to steering, spinning off occures from minor mistakes, an endless list.

Thinking about advantages, overtaking should become easier, races more interesting to watch and the main thing. Good drivers will make gap to worse (they are all experts, after all).

Thinking about disadvantages; More engine power and more difficult handling vs. safety? Anyone can decide that on her/his own.

But now, to the point. We remember than Mr. J. Villeneuve strictly critiziced the new rules. Why isn't he happy with, I think, more interesting and challenging driving? In my opinion he can´t count anymore on the overpower of Williams-Renault (or Mecachrome). Is he worried about he's driving abilities compared to other pilots (not mine, haha)? The man with big smile is Mr. Schumacher. It seems that he can control a F1-car even on ice. Remember rainy Monte Carlo?

After all, M. Schumacher has proved that he is fastest pilot on track today. Irvine has nothing to shame for been beaten by his team-mate severely. Will the new rules make Schumi´s way easier to win the '98 championship title? We well be wiser in November.

Hoping interesting and exciting '98 season for anyone in F1! With best regards,

Petri Ikonen
petri.ikonen@cab.inet.fi


About a year ago, I posted a comment about Bernie Ecclestone's anti-American statements in a British magazine (F1 Racing). Now he's at it again... In an interview from "The Daily Telegraph" and quoted in "Autoweek" (Jan.12, 1998 p. 46), Bernie again puts his oversized foot in his even more oversized mouth.

On why F1 doesn't race in the States he replies: "The answer is that it is America, and that is why we don't go there! Worldwide, people always manage to build facilities and invest in their facilities, but not in America. Their road courses are a disaster. They won't pass safety standards so we couldn't go there even if we wanted to. It's difficult to get good TV there because there is so much sport, and the reason that soccer won't work there, and the reason that we are in trouble there, is that the Americans, from the day they are born, are brought up not to concentrate for too long. America is not a place with a culture for Formula One, in my opinion."

As I said the last time, as an SCCA licensed course worker, I can confidently say our facilities are as good as any in Europe. PERIOD. I am most familiar with Mid-Ohio and would have no hesitation about safety, as a driver or course worker.

"Difficult to get Good TV" Maybe he's afraid of competetion or having difficulty extorting as much money out of the production and distribution companies as he does in Europe.

"Soccer won't work there" I'll admit, I'm not a big fan of soccer. However, I have several friends that coach or play soccer. Soccer fields are springing up everywhere. There's a great "grassroots" movement which should see a healthy market springing up soon.

Americans "are brought up not to concentrate for too long." This is nonsense and part of the "feel good" factor other countries push when in comparison the the U.S..

Personally, I feel that Bernie (or God, as he thinks of himself) needs to be removed from the sport. Until that point, I have some recommendations for Americans that have supported this lunatic.

First, to all F1 fans, including myself, this is tough, but, tune out, don't watch, don't care.

Second, to member organizations of ACCUS, withdraw from answering to the FIA until Ecclestone is removed. (Don't get me started on the FIA itself.) In other words, America, in its lack of concentration, will handle its own rules making, scheduling and so on.

Third, tell TV sponsors why you are not watching and don't support those that continue to sponsor Bernie.

Fourth, encourage drivers, teams and sponsors to come over to CART. Better TV, slick tires, great competition and lower cost are good reasons, but adding pressure on the FIA and Bernie should make it irresistable.

PS, Bernie, if you really are a businessman, you should realize that you have a product to sell and insulting the customer is not a good idea... ever.

Allen Schutte
aschutte@fuse.net


Please save us from another year of Mitch McCann. Everytime I bother to read his ramblings I regret it. The space could be used for much more beneficial stuff even if you left the area blank. I shutter at the thought that you possibily pay him for what pitiful services he offers. If you do - you are getting ripped off.

Please dump his column and liberate your excellent web site from such worthless, pitiful verbage that he seems to be so predisposed to deliver.

Sincerely,

Rob Thomas
AMS1RnD@aol.com


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