Toit allows Minardi to race the old car

bouc

We have the part to upgrade to 2005-spec?:o :o :o

But Stoddat...:spank:

how the people can respect Minardi if we do that caos only to advantage for the race!!:mad: :mad:

We have the part to upgrade to 2005-spec in the garage...

Ger

"Spare a thought for my two drivers. It's their first day in a grand prix. They've waited all their lives to be in this position, and they don't need this sh*t either. This needs sorting out tonight so we do not go into the race weekend with this hanging over us."

God this is such a F***** up situation PS has gotten the team into


[Edited on 3/3/2005 by Ger]

minardirule

This is all just getting very silly and it must be damaging the team:(:(:(

Petroltorque

This is a piss take right? Stoddarts got conforming parts in the back of the garage and he won't install them. Are you surprised that RBR and TOIT are pissed. There's NO FCUCKING WAY that the 2004 should pass technical scrutineering. Talk about bringing the sort into disrepute. I'm reaching into my pocket for the RED card!

JuniorMin

The whole Minardi operation has fallen apart. I don't suppose there were any new sponsors rushing to the team at the launch. And frankly I'm not surprised.

At the last minute SMP re-entered the picture. They had seemingly disappeared from the sponsorship radar, however apparently some last minute phone calls saw their decals added to the chimneys and flip ups... you could almost say they were "rushing to the team at the launch".

If you want a photo of them putting the decals on just before the launch, I'd gladly post it for you.

Minardus

Read people!!!

They haven't got enough 2005 parts to upgrade BOTH cars !!!!

So what can they say to the drivers: 1 can drive, the other fly home please ?????? We can't do that to them. It would totally demoralise the driver for the rest of the season !!!

BTW, PS will try to sneak into Todt's hotel this evening:

Minardi boss Paul Stoddart faces an eleventh hour stand-off with Ferrari boss Jean Todt as he attempts to gain the signature that will allow his 2004-spec cars to compete in the Australian GP.

The other eight team principals signed a document way back at the Chinese GP on 24 September which, in effect, gave their permission for Minardi to start the season with an old-spec aero package. Unless Todt relents, the black cars won't leave their garage on Friday morning.

Ferrari sources say that Todt is furious that details of his conversations with Stoddart have been aired in public, and his position is thus more entrenched than ever. He was due to arrive in Australia at around 7pm local time on Thursday evening. Although he has no appointment, Stoddart intends to get hold of Todt in his hotel and put his case.

"Someone said that he gets in at 7pm and will be in the hotel at 9pm," Stoddart confirmed, "I'm going to go round, and he may not even see me."

The Aussie insists that there are deep-rooted political reasons behind Todt's position.

"Let's get into this being a sporting issue - it never has been a sporting issue, this is pure unadulterated politics," he continued, "Todt said to me on the phone, the reason he is not signing, he didn't say 'Paul, it's wrong, you're a threat to Ferrari', he said 'Paul, you've been saying bad things about Ferrari'. So let's not confuse the issues here. This is 110 per cent politics.

"Jean Todt told me two nights ago, at 2.30am Melbourne time, on the phone that he would not sign because I have been saying bad things about Ferrari in the press. In fairness to him, I could hear all the background, he was in a function or something, and he said 'I cannot discuss this, I have to go', and he put the phone down. And that was the end of the conversation.

"You don't hear me knocking Ferrari, you certainly don't hear me knocking Ferrari or the team. Anyone who knows me knows that I probably have more respect for Ferrari, Michael and the job they do than anyone else probably in the pit-lane. They don't need this sh*t. There is probably nobody up there at Ferrari that wants to be involved in this - with the exception of Todt."Asked whether he understood that the Frenchman might be especially upset because their discussions had been made public, Stoddart remained unmoved.

"What? That I tell the truth? Well, tough, because I've always done that. I don't care if he doesn't like me, I'm not here to win popularity, I'm here because I passionately care about my team in F1. I get in a lot of sh*t for telling the truth. Just remember, I've been the one that has had to deliver the bad news for the last three months. But there wouldn't be nine signatures if eight other people didn't think exactly the same way as I do. I promise you, if there was a line on here for Bernie Ecclestone, he would have signed too."

Petroltorque

Better pay a visit to Horner on the way as well. It reminds me of the 1939 pic of the PM desecending from the plane after a visit with Hitler. " I have in my hand a piece of paper". It could be loo paper for all the good it will dohim.
PS whats with Stoddart's suggestion that fans should burn TOIT merchandise? Thats a disgrace!

JuniorMin

my god man, take a valium or something. Does Paul say 'if the dont sign, we are blaming TOIT and everyoine should burn their paraphanalia'??

Short answer: no.

You say there is no way the car should pass scrutineering, yet it did.

You say people are blaming Ferrari for Minardi not having the required parts, yet they are not.

You said no sponsor would be "rushing to the team before the launch", yet they were.

You say Paul is now asking people to burn TOIT merchandise, yert he is quite obviously not.

I sense a pattern developing.

Minardus

You said no sponsor would be "rushing to the team before the launch", yet they were

Please, post the pic !!!!

JuniorMin

SMP, the Russian bank. We saw the stickers being put on at the last minute and we thought please no, let us not have Sergey back as a third driver... scary.

Biker

:D:D:D

Don't bother, too much movement on the pic...... ;)

minardimontreal

Its very sad to see what is happening. Maybe Ferrari want to teach Paul a lesson in diplomacy or what, but this is not the way it is done. Money killed the hockey season in North America, and by all means, money and politics will kill F1 as we know it today.

Its so funny; if anybody has watched the Enzo Ferrari movie, at the end they thank GC Minardi and Minardi Team SPA, for letting them use the Minardi facilities, and now they want to drown us! I think at the end it will be resolved, but we are always making the news for all the wrong reasons!!!!

And what about that new nose badge! Pls tell me it ain't so.

Anyway, let's wish our guys a safe and successful 2005 GP season!!!!!!!

vuurmuur

Read people!!!
They haven't got enough 2005 parts to upgrade BOTH cars !!!!

Well, he had plenty of time, didn't he? He could see this coming months ago. So the only one to blame is Stoddart in this case!

Minardus

WHY?
Does Stoddart actually produce parts himself in the factory ????????:spank:

SMP, the Russian bank

We have a Russian team on the grid now, but we get to retain a Russian sponsor.
At least SOME good news today !!!!!:)

BTW, where's Waldo? ... uhm, I mean: where's Todt?:hehe:
From F1racing.net:

Seeking Jean Todt


Where is Todt hiding?
Paul Stoddart drove to Melbourne's Crown Casino hotel on Thursday evening, in a desperate bid to resolve the crisis that threatens to sideline his Minardi F1 team. The Australian is seeking Ferrari's signature on a document to allow the Faenza-based team to use last year's Minardi car in the grand prix here.

"No news," Paul said after emerging from a failed hunt for Jean Todt. "He's not in his room, he's not in the hotel. I've left messages everywhere, so let's hope my mobile rings a little later. I don't want this to spill into tomorrow, but it looks like it will."

Stoddart's 'deadline' is 11am on Friday morning; the time of the start of free practice. Another team principal, though, may also be siding with Ferrari -- Red Bull. Christian Horner said 'every team' must abide the rules.

vuurmuur

WHY?
Does Stoddart actually produce parts himself in the factory ????????:spank:

Uhhmmm, because he is a teamowner and responsible for it?:rolleyes: I can understand that they are not ready in time with the new car. But they were able to built new parts for the old Minardi.

viges

One, of course, remains positive for the season but the day you start relying on Todt the Wanker shows how far things have come.

a) Sponsorship situation looks poor.

b) Diffusor situation is amateurish.

Could the two be connected?

MCSF

On the Atlas boards there are quotes from OZ news sources saying that TOIThas agreed but will only sign the paperwork if it is delivered by Charlie "Chuckles" Whiting. He will not even give PS the time of day.

However, the Red Bull issiue is still looming.

How reliable this info is .... is not clear.

Homer

On the Atlas boards there are quotes from OZ news sources saying that TOIThas agreed but will only sign the paperwork if it is delivered by Charlie "Chuckles" Whiting. He will not even give PS the time of day.

Sense?

MCSF

Both acting like a pair of 2 year olds.

viges

Webbo & Schumi on Minardi in the press conference:

(Dieter Rencken - The Citizen) A question for Mark. It was here with Minardi a few years ago that you finished fifth. You are Australian and Paul Stoddart is Australian. How do you feel about Minardi not starting on Sunday?
MW: I don’t think my opinion is that important to be honest, in terms of the politics of it all. But of course I will be very disappointed if Paul is not racing here on Sunday. The fans are very much behind the Minardi team and they are basically a family team very passionate and the spirit in that team is incredible so they want to come here to compete of course they can’t go of for overall honours but they do their best with what they’ve got. In terms of the politics, I don’t really understand it all.

(Ken Cavanagh - Triple M Radio) A question for Michael: Given the Minardi situation, a two-part question – one do you think Minardi is a serious threat to you in the race? And two what would you like to see when Jean Todt and Paul Stoddart meet this evening?
MS: Leave it up to them, its not my part to be involved in this. Regarding the first question I know they are good guys and I had a nice occasion with Paul myself when he sort of realised a promise he gave me once to go in his double-seater and I enjoyed that with some friends and my wife and so on. He is very nice. It is very unfortunate to hear these things and you have to make up your own mind on the question.

Given they are not a threat can you see any reason why they should be excluded? MS: If .. you play soccer?
I used to..
MS: Imagine there is a new rule in soccer and you always play with ten people and there is always one team that is not doing very well, would you accept they play with 11 or more people…?

If they were effectively playing with their hands tied behind their back already, yeh.
MS: I don’t think it is a serious subject to discuss.

##

Nice comeback from the Triple M guy although I don't agree with him!

Homer

Very nice comeback, indeed:hehe:

However, the situation sucks! In a couple of hours, the frist free practise will begin, hopefully with Minardi. I don't know, but something tells me that there will be a happy-end!

Petroltorque

Juniormin, I'm afraid you're showing a lack of understanding. The car has not passed the technical scrutineering. Its passed the safety tests that state all body work have to be encased in kevlar. Jeez its like trying to have an discussion with a six year old.
PS excuse the pun , but if my eyes are decieving me, there's a dearth of sponsors on the car. More looming trouble in the short term, cos money looks tight. Too tight to mention....

StoddieBasher

If they race, if they don't race, it's immaterial. This is still a grand cock up either way. Stoddart does'nt deserve to race. Minardi do, does that make sense?

OleBenny

How can the car confirm to the safety requirements if they saw of "half" the diffuser? Woudn't that require a new crash test because the rear structure of the car has changed?

Petroltorque

My prediction is that the cars get thrown out at Scrutineering and Stoddart races under appeal. That gives him 2 weeks to comply with the regs. Assumming of course that The World Council don't put a prhibitive fine or race ban on the team when they lose the appeal.

MCSF

Good call petrol - benny, I don't think the diffuser is part of the crash structure.

Petroltorque

Yea, Emmetts right. The diffusor is not part of the rear impact test. Its not the most rearward part of the car now. Thats the rear wing mountings.
The whole Minardi thing is a disaster. My once great team has gone to hell in a hand cart , cos the guy who owns it is out of his depth. Time for Stoddart to do a Tyler S Thompson.

Minardus

I have a strange idea that we will takepart in this GP !!!!

Maybe the guys in the factory are finalising the diffusors, to be flown in (by expressflight) to OZ!!!!:angel:

ThunderboltSeven

This whole affair has me so disgruntled, I might not even turn on the TV at 10 pm tonight...

...who am I kidding, I'm a glutton for punishment...I'll be sitting there in my team gear, ripe for disappointment...

Manni

I would hate for us to use parts on a car that haven't been tested. Being made is one thing. Being diligent and making sure that our drivers are safe is another.

I would have us race but exclude any points that we may manage to get.

This is fair.

***BREAKING NEWS***RED BULL AGREE TO LET US RACE

From Planet f1

Red Bull have agreed to Minardi’s request that they can race in Australia using last year’s cars.
The team’s boss, Christian Horner, had earlier in the day declared that he wouldn’t support Minardi’s plea, arguing that “rules are rules” and adding "My position and that of Red Bull is that nothing would be more frustrating for us in a debut race to finish ninth with a Minardi ahead of us and a point taken from us."

However later in the day the team’s position changed (Red Bull and volte face are becoming somewhat synonymous) after Paul Stoddart and Horner met at an engagement in Melbourne and the Minardi bossed agreed that if Minardi finished in the top eight and ahead of Red Bull in the race then they would give up their points and position.

Minardi need a unanimous vote from all the teams if the FIA stewards are to let them race. And with Ferrari still refusing to back down – or even talk to Minardi – it’s still a case of nine down, a very stubborn one still to go ahead of the 11am deadline on Friday in Melbourne...