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Good and Bad

MCSF
in ForzaMinardi.com Forum
Gian Carlo Minardi says losing his team's name was a reasonable price to pay for saving the struggling Faenza-based squad.

But the team founder admitted he is unhappy the Minardi name will disappear from Formula One next season.

"We have managed to save all the workforce. If the price to pay was [losing] the name, then never mind. But don't think I'm happy about it," Minardi told Autosprint.

"I made one particular error five years ago. I didn't follow the advice I was given by a man with whom I had a relationship in the early seventies, long before getting into F1.

"That man told me: 'Minardi, sell your stock, sell whatever you want, but don't ever sell your name.' That man's name was Enzo Ferrari. Instead [of selling it] I gave the name away for free."

Energy drinks giant Red Bull bought Minardi from Paul Stoddart last month and the team will race under the name Squadra Toro Rosso in 2006.

Minardi, who founded his team in 1985, has no regrets about his life in Formula One, despite the financial struggles over the years.

"I lost plenty of money [in F1] and I'm still paying for debts I got before 1997, when I was still the sole owner of the stock," Minardi added. "But life isn't all about money. At least I've had the satisfaction of staying in this environment and to do the things I wanted to.

"And besides, this is well known but it can't be said, in Italy there isn't room for two teams. But if someone believed in it more, at the right time, maybe the story would have been different."

Comments

  • Biker
    One wonders why he didn't follow the advice of Ferrari. What a shame...

    BTW You're early mr. NASA !
  • MCSF
    Up every day at around 0430 PST.
  • Biker
    Up every day at around 0430 PST
    To look at the stars? ;)
  • MCSF
    To get to work by 6. 50 mile drive each way.
  • Biker
    I guess you get used to it, but it would be a bit early for me. Is there already a lot of traffic at that time?

    I start at 8 and the 12 km. take a bit more than half an hour on my bicycle.
  • MCSF
    Almost zero traffic at that timeof morning - upon my return it is a different story. Sometimes I work until 1900 so the traffic dies down a bit. I wish I could ride my bike to woirk - kill two birds with one stone and all but doing a century ride every day is out of the question.
  • Ste
    compare that 50 mile drive to work to my 42 second walk (we timed it) to my department at uni!! hehe ;)
  • bladerunner
    Article with similar info in German:

    http://www.f1total.com/news/05102506.shtml

    Apparently, CGM is still (2005) paying back debt he incurred before 1997 in F1...

    Question which wasn't clear to me: Do the reports imply CGM sold the name as part of the package ? (Or rather, Stoddart sold on the name he "bought" in 2000.
    If so, CGM couldn't start a new team in 2008 with his name in F1 ?
  • MCSF
    Last i heard the name Minardi was still owned by GCM. I am not sure if he is saying that by the name changing he has "sold" his name.

    We will have more answers soon enough.
  • Neil_s
    Sometimes I work until 1900


    I don't know how you still find time to come on this message board!!:D
  • minardirule
    [quote]Sometimes I work until 1900


    I don't know how you still find time to come on this message board!!:D [/quote]

    When Quig say staying at work, He means using the message boards AT work :hehe::hehe:

    But seriously no one can stop Gian Carlo Minardi using his own name indefinately so 2008 here we come
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