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matibee
Kart Champion
Joined: 04 Aug 2007
Posts: 66
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 Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 11:58 Post subject: Eddie Irvine; 1999 World Champion... |
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This is something that has always bugged me but I've never discussed with a knowledgable crowd. In the last race of '99 at Suzuka, Mika had to win to be sure of the title and Schumi had missed several races due to his broken leg from Silverstone (I was there to cheer when he went off, but slightly ashamed when he was stretchered away).
So it was never in the script to let Eddie win the WDC was it? Letting him become the first Ferrari champion in 20 years when that honor was always going to be Michaels.
On the day Hakkinen won with Schumi close behind - close enough and for long enough to have won if he was fighting for his own championship but beating Mika would have handed the crown to his team mate.
He managed pole and fastest lap, so to me, this is the only reason Schumi didn't win that race and it must have been playing heavily on his mind. I'd loved to have seen what would have happened if Mika had retired from the lead - Micheal would probably have taken Eddie off too, had it been too late in the race to bungle his pit stop  |
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Tazio Nuvolari
F3 Racer
Joined: 19 Dec 2005
Posts: 226
Location: Munich, Germany
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| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 14:21 Post subject: |
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| Too much conspiracy theories there. There were suggestions MS didn't give his all in Japan, but nobody ever could prove this. Only the man himself knows. I've never hear Irvine suggesting this. |
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Editor
Site Admin
Joined: 19 Feb 2004
Posts: 4033
Location: England
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| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 14:35 Post subject: Re: Eddie Irvine; 1999 World Champion... |
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| matibee wrote: | This is something that has always bugged me but I've never discussed with a knowledgable crowd. In the last race of '99 at Suzuka, Mika had to win to be sure of the title and Schumi had missed several races due to his broken leg from Silverstone (I was there to cheer when he went off, but slightly ashamed when he was stretchered away).
So it was never in the script to let Eddie win the WDC was it? Letting him become the first Ferrari champion in 20 years when that honor was always going to be Michaels.
On the day Hakkinen won with Schumi close behind - close enough and for long enough to have won if he was fighting for his own championship but beating Mika would have handed the crown to his team mate.
He managed pole and fastest lap, so to me, this is the only reason Schumi didn't win that race and it must have been playing heavily on his mind. I'd loved to have seen what would have happened if Mika had retired from the lead - Micheal would probably have taken Eddie off too, had it been too late in the race to bungle his pit stop |
Note to Tiggers: We really must get a 'wide, long drawn out, yawn emoticon |
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tiggers
Site Admin
Joined: 23 Feb 2004
Posts: 5201
Location: Alderaan
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| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 15:34 Post subject: Re: Eddie Irvine; 1999 World Champion... |
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| Editor wrote: | | matibee wrote: | This is something that has always bugged me but I've never discussed with a knowledgable crowd. In the last race of '99 at Suzuka, Mika had to win to be sure of the title and Schumi had missed several races due to his broken leg from Silverstone (I was there to cheer when he went off, but slightly ashamed when he was stretchered away).
So it was never in the script to let Eddie win the WDC was it? Letting him become the first Ferrari champion in 20 years when that honor was always going to be Michaels.
On the day Hakkinen won with Schumi close behind - close enough and for long enough to have won if he was fighting for his own championship but beating Mika would have handed the crown to his team mate.
He managed pole and fastest lap, so to me, this is the only reason Schumi didn't win that race and it must have been playing heavily on his mind. I'd loved to have seen what would have happened if Mika had retired from the lead - Micheal would probably have taken Eddie off too, had it been too late in the race to bungle his pit stop |
Note to Tiggers: We really must get a 'wide, long drawn out, yawn emoticon |
Indeed LOL! |
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matibee
Kart Champion
Joined: 04 Aug 2007
Posts: 66
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| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 16:49 Post subject: |
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Sorry to bore you. My inadmissable defence case would be;
F1 History forum
'I've never discussed with a knowledgable crowd'
Recent failings have caused '99 to be brought up elsewhere
| Quote: | | Note to Tiggers: We really must get a 'wide, long drawn out, yawn emoticon |
Yep. For a site that constantly considers these front page news it'd be worthy investment. |
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Alexodynami
Single-Seater Rookie
Joined: 30 Jun 2007
Posts: 168
Location: Derby
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| Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 01:40 Post subject: |
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Searching through Forum topic archives, I have found this which has a bit mentioned about the 1999 WDC, though It does start as a Mika Hakkinen v Kimi Debate
http://www.pitpass.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3106 |
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Jon
F2 Racer
Joined: 10 Mar 2004
Posts: 426
Location: Mexico
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| Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 14:11 Post subject: Re: Eddie Irvine; 1999 World Champion... |
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| matibee wrote: | This is something that has always bugged me but I've never discussed with a knowledgable crowd. In the last race of '99 at Suzuka, Mika had to win to be sure of the title and Schumi had missed several races due to his broken leg from Silverstone (I was there to cheer when he went off, but slightly ashamed when he was stretchered away).
So it was never in the script to let Eddie win the WDC was it? Letting him become the first Ferrari champion in 20 years when that honor was always going to be Michaels.
On the day Hakkinen won with Schumi close behind - close enough and for long enough to have won if he was fighting for his own championship but beating Mika would have handed the crown to his team mate.
He managed pole and fastest lap, so to me, this is the only reason Schumi didn't win that race and it must have been playing heavily on his mind. I'd loved to have seen what would have happened if Mika had retired from the lead - Micheal would probably have taken Eddie off too, had it been too late in the race to bungle his pit stop |
Is is quite easy to think of this scenario, but keep in mind some other things to put it into context.
MS was, reportedly, relaxing at home, playing soccer with the kids, when LCdM called. Upon learning that daddy was playing soccer when he had said that he wouldn't come back until next year for he needed time to heal, said senior executive demanded that MS get his arse in a plane immediately and make a comeback in time for Malaysia. He dully obliged.
Now, Luca certainly came across as wanting to win the driver's. So, do you think he would have stayed calm if he ever thought that MS had not given his all? I seem to recall that Michael's face that day in the press conference was that of a beaten man. Mika was simply untouchable.
But it is certainly a scenario easy to think of.
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kraut
F1 Driver
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
Posts: 799
Location: Vancouver BC/Canada
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| Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 16:09 Post subject: |
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Well were to start ... first of all it is not up to MS to win a race so that his teammate wins the WDC .. it is up to Eddie to win the damn race to deserve the title. Mika did it .. file closed.
I think in MS's head was not that Eddie should or should not get the title before him ... it was more that if he tries to attack Mika and Mika or both will crash out ... I am sure that after Adelaide 94 and Jerez 97 .. this would have been Michael's last race as a professional race driver.
Now some said Eddie finished almost 1 minute 30 seconds (!!!) behind the leaders cuz his car was somehow manipulated or didnt get the best package available. I cant imagine in my wildest dreams that JT, RB or LdM would hand over the WDC crown .. after 20 years of chasing it ... to the biggest Ferrari hater just because the "wrong one" of the two guys would get it ??
Nobody at the SF could have anticipated the golden five seasons that would come.
No .. the Reds wanted both titles ... finally. There is no way that they hand over one to Ron Dennis. That would be way too much credit for MS.
kraut |
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matibee
Kart Champion
Joined: 04 Aug 2007
Posts: 66
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| Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 20:09 Post subject: |
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Ok. I can accept that Ferrari would want the WDC no matter what but Michael knew the implications of beating Mika that day and it was one race he was never going to win. As I remember his 'well beaten' look after the race could have well been showing his paymasters how hard he 'tried'.
I don't want any driver winning through the actions of another, Mika did the job and won the title deservedly.
There's a simple reason why I brought this up now; It's history. Irvine has been away from F1 long enough to have said openly if he thought Michael was quick enough to win that race that day. I've never heard of him saying so but then I don't buy the biogs, so I'm sure, if he had, someone on here would enlighten me.
If he hasn't said it, lets leave it.. We can resurrect this thread if he ever does  |
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Mekola (NK)
F1 Test Driver
Joined: 02 Dec 2007
Posts: 696
Location: Villa Adelina, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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| Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 01:29 Post subject: |
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As we have this, in Argentina we tend to develop a similar "Carlos Reutemann, 1981 World Champion" - because both cases are on the verge of conspiracy theories, due to some backyard interests related to them, but we'll never know if their statements could be proved or not.
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Don't do to anybody any thing you don't want to be done at you. |
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Jasmine
Single-Seater Rookie
Joined: 03 Apr 2008
Posts: 121
Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire, England.
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| Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 19:06 Post subject: |
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Esteban Tuero - 1998 World Champion
If only he hadn't driven for Minardi. He could of been the best ever.
Mika who? 
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The moment Steve Ryder broke into song, and Lewis Hamilton shot him a look and then the camera. He spoke for the nation. |
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White Lightning
Site Admin
Joined: 03 Mar 2004
Posts: 5988
Location: London, UK
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| Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 19:48 Post subject: |
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Esteban Tuero - 2003/4/5 World Champion.
On the 'Grand Prix World' management game...  |
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chris.blades85
Grand Prix Winner
Joined: 25 Jul 2007
Posts: 1588
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| Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 22:50 Post subject: |
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I thought Nakano was far better in '98. Truro wiping out the polystyrene boards in Argie '98 said it all.
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Massa? Schumacher? Ferrari yes, Mercedes no. What to do. SUFC. |
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White Lightning
Site Admin
Joined: 03 Mar 2004
Posts: 5988
Location: London, UK
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| Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 00:54 Post subject: |
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Apparently he was seen as a good up-and-comer, according to Wikipedia.
Now '98 was my first season watching F1, and I don't seem to remember that  |
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chris.blades85
Grand Prix Winner
Joined: 25 Jul 2007
Posts: 1588
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| Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 23:55 Post subject: |
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| White Lightning wrote: | Apparently he was seen as a good up-and-comer, according to Wikipedia.
Now '98 was my first season watching F1, and I don't seem to remember that |
First corner.......Lap 63.......Well I had to look the lap up! I'm not that sad!
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Massa? Schumacher? Ferrari yes, Mercedes no. What to do. SUFC. |
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