Motor Sport magazine has a regular feature called MY ONLY GRAND PRIX and this month takes us back to Interlagos '99 ...
http://www.stephane-sarrazin.com/v4/img/news/99minardi_02.jpg HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MINARDI DRIVE?
Stephane Sarrazin: I was at Barcelona testing for Prost. Alain called to tell me that Luca Badoer was injured and that Minardi wanted me. I didn't get a chance to test before Brazil. Prost said 'Don't worry, as the Minardi is slow you'll be at the back. There's no pressure, just try to learn.'
HOW DID THINGS GO WHEN YOU ARRIVED?
I didn't know the car or the circuit. Immediately in the wet first practice I think I was 14th and quite fast compared with my teammate Marc Gene. I'm not tall but it was a small car and I wasn't very comfortable. Before the first session the mechanics didn't move much, but after it they changed everything for me!
YOU HAD QUITE A SPECTACULAR RACE. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER?
My start from 17th was very good and on the second lap I passed Alex Zanardi in the Williams, but went straight on. After that I passed a few people including Gene. Later I was just behind Jacques Villeneuve in the BAR and I was faster than him. Then after the last slow left-hander my front wing collapsed and at the fast corner before the pits I went straight on. Inside the car it was OK but on TV it looked bad! I was 11th at the time, Prost's Olivier Panis was 12th or 13th and he finished sixth.
WHAT HAPPENED AFTERWARDS?
The team was very happy with my race. Gabriele Rumi asked me to continue but it wasn't possible because Prost didn't want it; I was test driver for him and raced in his F3000 team. Alain said, 'Continue with that and next year you will race with me.'
AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN ...
That's life - F1 is like that. In 1999 I was second in F3000 behind Nick Heidfeld until Spa, but in the last two races I dropped to fourth. In 2000 I tested for Prost and raced in F3000 with McLaren but it was a difficult year. I tested for Prost again in 2001 then left to become a test driver for Toyota.
DID YOU EVER COME CLOSE TO ANOTHER RACING OPPORTUNITY?
No. Nothing really happened and a lot of drivers arrived in F1 with a lot of money so it was quite difficult.
AND NOW YOU'RE IN THE WRC ...
It was not a difficult choice - it was my dream to drive in rallies. I didn't hesitate when Subaru and the French Federation made the offer.
HOW HARD IS IT TO MAKE THE CHANGE?
It's quite hard, like starting again. You need to work with the co-driver and it's a different style of driving. F1 is incredible, very fast and exciting. But rallying changes all the time; narrow, bumpy, slow then fast, grip and then no grip. You have to concentrate at every corner.
ENDS
He's done very well with rallying. The fickle world of F1; what if he had taken up Rumi's offer ...
I also like the Minardi mechanics getting to work after first practice.
Also, his reference to other F1 drivers in the race rubs in how far Minardi has slipped in recent years.
## For little gems like this and great writing on all sorts of motor racing MotorSport is the mag:
http://www.haymarketgroup.com/products/index.cfm?fuseaction=showProduct&productID=81
Comments
Other times!!
BTW yes, he was quite unlucky, he was for sure better than many other people we saw in F1 in the last few years!
we will get 5 points minimum!
Sarrazin was damned good in that race, couldn't break the contract with Prost since Minardi couldn't pay the release clause, f*ck Prost for dropping him for people like Burti.
Simon, helluva article BTW. Clown's right, Judas has apallingly reached rock bottom in these years, featuring some spectacular moves like dropping Frentzen. Can't compare with Minardi.
I kept on reading and I noticed you mean onto SomeThing, like: he has a Point !!!:)
And I agree with you both !!!
Minardi will kick the Jordan's and the Bull's asses!!:cool:
Autosport is saying Glock/Doornbos are likely at Jordan along with a possible Dallara chassis?
From 2006 onward it would become Midland F1 with a Dallara chassis.
Re. chassis-building: I remember Reynard being linked to BAR in their first season!!
Nothing new for me, you lucky Imola sods. ;)
Aussie fans always get screwed. We also never see the new TOIT. :rolleyes:
The new car will definately be worth it:D
In 2006.