"Schumacher's crash was the happiest moment of my career" says Ed

[DNQ]

At least the bloke speaks the truth. Shame they aren't all this way.

Stolen from www.f1-live.com/en

Jaguar driver Eddie Irvine has admitted that when his Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher broke his leg in a crash at the 1999 British Grand Prix, it was the happiest moment of his life! The controversial Ulsterman claimed any other driver would have replicated his reaction as it opened the way for him to challenge for the title with the championship winning driver out of the way.

"Michael Schumacher claims the Silverstone crash which broke his leg still haunts him... for me it was the happiest moment of my career," he told the Sun. "Once the team had told me he was okay I remember sitting in the car trying to contain my joy at his misfortune because it meant I would be able to challenge for the world crown (he went on to finish runner-up to Mika Hakkinen).”

Irvine, who is now with the struggling Jaguar outfit, even claimed that Schumacher had only himself to blame for the crash….

"There's little doubt that had Michael not had his crash he would have won the title that year - but he only has himself to blame. Everybody thinks that brake failure was responsible for the incident but I would like to put the record straight and record how the scenario really unfolded. I was really energised for the race because the car was doing great but I was also really hacked off with Michael.”

"He had been quoted as saying that I had only helped him a couple of times when the truth was that I had moved over for him several times without the team even asking me. I felt his comments were ungracious so when I flew past him at the start I decided to brake so late going into the corner that there would be no way he could come by me without sliding wide. He braked, locked up, came off the brakes and then tried to sweep by me.”

"But then he had to brake again when he realised he wasn't going to make it and that's when a nipple in the brakes snapped and sent him straight into the tyre wall."

However Irvine said his attitude was no different to those of the other drivers on the circuit if they had had a shout at the title should their senior teammate have suffered an accident.

"Before anyone accuses me of being callous let's put something straight. There is not a driver in the pit lane who wouldn't rejoice at someone else's grief if it was going to benefit them. Formula One racers are all totally selfish because if they didn't think me, me, me they would just be trodden into the ground. I have always said that Formula One is a war and it really is."

Irvine said his claims were supported by what happened after the Brazilian legend Ayrton Senna - who had punched the Ulsterman after the 1993 Japanese Grand Prix because he felt Irvine had been disrespectful in not moving over to let him through - was killed at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994.

"Take Ayrton Senna's tragic death in 1994. It was a frightening reminder what can happen to even the finest driver in the world. But it didn't stop several racers from phoning Frank Williams (for whom Senna was driving) the following day asking for the chance to take Ayrton's place in the team. There's a fine line between showing respect for such an appalling incident or missing a golden opportunity for a top drive."

However Irvine does admit that despite feeling at Silverstone that Schumacher's misfortune had given him a clear shot at the title he also lost it there the same day.

"I overshot the mark when I made my first pit stop and that allowed David Coulthard to win the race while I had to settle for second. So you could say Silverstone was the place where I had the chance of winning the championship - and also the arena where I lost it."

Not really much of a story in a way - I agree that if I was in his situation, I too would be happy to get a chance in the spotlight. You must make the most of all oppurtunities presented to you, no matter what the circumstances, unless of course death is involved.

I don't have a problem with what Ed says here

[Sato san]

Sometimes though , Eddie doesnt have much tact does he !

[Inigo Montoya]

Real classy comments from a real classy guy

Eddie, RETIRE, and go practice the BS'ing with the girls!

[Nicholas]

Sure he's not very tactful, but it's absolutely true (well the stuff about being selfish is).

[Gt_R]

I find his comments, though blunt, is just plain facts. I don't think he really means "I love Michael crashing", but more than "I'm pleased to have this break to fight for the championship", which as a driver is the ultimate dream. And of course he would be, because such opportunity is SOOOOOO rare...unless your name is Michael Schumacher.

But it's a little not to tactful, as observed by many, and i find it perhaps a little to ill-thought out, and a little showy "act"... However, i must say that i appreciate and recognise the part he played to assist Michael in his championship bid. He is a great help no doubt, but before he or anybody starts thinking EI's the one who made Michael's successes possible...haha..continue the fantasy. Ungracious of Michael? Like how MS returned Eddie the favour in Sepang? Or how MS raced harder than Eddie for a championship not his own in 99? So how gracious is Eddie to recognise that?

[EERO]

Rather brutal comments, but a refreshing dose of reality. Eddie once again proves why he's considered to be the finest gentleman in F1.

I find the comments about drivers phoning Frank Williams the day after Senna's death looking for the seat the most shocking. It says a lot about HHF who was actually offered the ride and turned it down out respect for Peter Sauber.

Well, even if Eddie retires, we won't be spared his quotes-the tabloid media will seek him out on his yacht to get the latest word.

[Jordi]

It is not brutal. He says "once the team had told me he was okay I remember sitting in the car trying to contain my joy at his misfortune because it meant I would be able to challenge for the world crown"...

but obviously the title is "Irvine says Schu crash was the happiest moment of his career"

The way it is titled, it seems as if Irvine liked that Schumacher crashed...

[Don K]

[QUOTEI felt his comments were ungracious so when I flew past him at the start I decided to brake so late going into the corner that there would be no way he could come by me without sliding wide.[/QUOTE]So in fact Eddy says that Ferrari did allow him to race against Michael. He was even allowed to force his team mate into a dangerous situation ...

It looks as if Ferrari gave Eddy much more opportunities than they are giving Rubens now.

[R]

Eddie speaks his mind. I like that. One can argue that what he says is not a "nice" thing to say, but at least he's honest, and that's something I respect.

I've been critical (to put it mildly!) of Eddie Irvine in the past, but after I saw a documentary on him (actually from the 99 season), and got to know him a bit better, I have a lot more sympathy for the guy.

Eddie should get out of Jaguar and go back to his spiritual home - Jordan.

[OVERSTEER]

The thing that's great is that Eddie speaks his mind, whilst everyone else says what their teams tell them to say, Not alot of tact I agree, but he hit all the points he talked about right on the mark, well done Eddie!

[Valve Bounce]

I think the whole story underscores Eddies frustration at being SchM's Schu-shine boy, and not being given the gratitude.

Valve[img]http://www.**************************/smilies/bouncy.gif[/img]

[f1manoz]

Irvine is just speaking the cold, hard truth. Schu's accident opened up a door that otherwise would have remained firmly closed.

[Gt_R]

The story underscores his frustration of not being able to win the '99 WDC, the closest he ever got to, and possibly the only chance he ever had.

He still thought he would have won, if he had not lost the points he 'gave' Michael... but of course, forgetting he was given 2 races back (Germany and Sepang).

[Liz]

One of the drivers who called Frank asking for Senna's drive was Zanardi.

[Valve Bounce]

Hi Liz

Valve[img]http://www.**************************/smilies/bouncy.gif[/img]

[TimD]

Interesting comments - I don't care much for what Eddie Irvine said, but yes - they have the ring of truth to them.

What I'm surprised no-one has commented on is the passage:

".... There is not a driver in the pit lane who wouldn't rejoice at someone else's grief if it was going to benefit them. Formula One racers are all totally selfish because if they didn't think me, me, me they would just be trodden into the ground. I have always said that Formula One is a war and it really is...."

That's why I can't get much joy out of Formula 1 as it exists today. Is it really so long ago that Jackie Stewart retired because he was "...tired of going to the funerals of friends..."? So insane for the Alfa Romeo team to permanently blacklist the driver whose manager phoned the day Patrick Depailler died?

On another thread going on at the moment, there is the vague surprise that Sir Stirling can talk with candid affection and admiration for one of his greatest rivals, fifty years after the event.

If ever there was an indictment of the modern "sport" industry, then this is it.

[EERO]

Amen, Tim.

[Inigo Montoya]

And yet you guys keep watching, and you keep moderating this forum -- so, it can't be THAT bad

[freud]

Eddie Irvine was always known to be a loud mouth but with these comments he has gone a bit too far. I think its very unethical, tragic, bad ettiquette and immoral to speak such words about a fellow driver who gave him a chance to win the driver's title in 1999. He was a plain peice of sh1t that was totally being dominated by Mika until Michael arrived back at Sepang and handed him the race on a plate.

Even if he took joy in Michael's misery, he just shouldnt say it. There is something called 'proper ettiquette' in this world. With these comments, Eddie has fallen from grace.