jacques traumatic year so far

[Adam43]

irhodes welcome to ten-tenths.

I must apologise with the reaction your thread has started. It is to be well expected around here. There was a point not so long ago when every thread was turned into a Jacques one. He has the fans, but the situation got laughable. Every team was going to sign him at one point - McLaren, Williams, Toyota, Jordan, BAR... Hence the humour (and it is on the most part) and odd reaction to your post.

Generally it is just a 'oh no not again'.

Welcome.

[Adam43]

Originally posted by minirda
DaMatta out, Jacques in... maybe even before GP Barcelona.

You read it here first folks.

[F1Pete]

Nice post. Notice the controversy when one of the best drivers on the grid is not there?? This just means F1 needs a guy like Villeneuve. This forum is overrun with limeys who favour British drivers. So, with Button racing against JV I can see where the allegiance comes from. I am not saying this is a bad thing. If this was a Columbian forum, Montoya would be the man of the perpetual hour.

It is absolutely ridiculous to say that because of JV's departure, that BAR has taken off. Is it because of Button?? Button or Sato don't impress me much, but the new Honda engine does. Honda wanted a Jap in the car, not JV and that's all it was. Sure, JV was bitter for the longest time, but wouldn't you be???? Do you think Senna would have stayed in BAR that long??? If he didn't like the car, he probably would have switched to a winning team long ago as compared to JV. JV stuck it out with poor designers, garbage engines, aeros, etc. until things were finally coming together. I would be ****ed too if my car couldn't finish a race. He wasted his talents for the longest time, but it all was a stepping stone to where the team is now. Funny how people forget what it takes to build a team from scratch. How long has Ferrari, McLaren, Williams been in business????

I feel sorry for ALL of you guys on this forum. JV is the son of probably the greatest, most fearless drivers to sit in an F1 car. He came from racing snowmobiles and as an independent to beat the heavily funded factory teams at the World Championships. He started racing stock cars with his own cash and rose to F1 on his own merits. Now you have the son of a legend who got into racing (and not at an early age like the rest of them). I followed JV very closely in CART and he alone overcame the powerful Penske Team to win the Championship. He then went on to win the Indy 500 (where guys like M. Schumacher wouldn't have the balls to even try...he has said so himself that it is too dangerous). Then came F1 were he did very well in his first couple of years (alot better than other guys who came from CART...ie. M. Andretti, Zinardi to name a few). So, you have a son of a legend who rose high. It's too bad that his dad wasn't around to witness his success.

Now to see bashing of a perfectly good driver doesn't really bother me. What bothers me is that if I speak out, the thread will be closed. Is it because of JV fans are outnumbered??? Where did my buddy TeddyG go??? My feeling is he got sick of all the bs in here. He probably got tired just like JV did.

I really hope for the sake of F1 that JV signs next season with a good team. Other sites say that he is ready to slip into the Williams seat. We shall wait and see I guess.

[Adam43]

Well on this forum, JV is liked a lot. Although, I fear the continual come back threads are getting tiresome for some. Gilles is pretty much worshipped over the entire lot of us (more or less). Montoya is very popular, despite us having very few Columbians on board! I'm not sure that it is because most of the members are British. After all would it be fair to accuse you of only liking him because you are Canadian. No it wouldn't.

[TeddyG]

Hey Pete, nah I'm still around. Though I am sick of the bs so I don't visit often, but I won't give certain moderators and posters here the satisfaction of my complete depature, at least not until the JV issue is settled anyways.

I think it is pretty pointless argueing back and forth, as most people have made up there minds on JV and aren't going to change them no matter how much evidence is given on the DR/JB/JV situation.

Point is:

- JV sacrificed his career trying to build a race winning team from scratch.

-Geoff Willis (who Pollock signed NOT Richards) got to create his first BAR car in 2003, and it was a marked improvment (except for horrible reliabilty on JV's car)

- Villeneuve for the FIRST time in his career was beaten by his teammate (HOWEVER 3 DNF's for Button, 9 DNF's for JV= you do the math!)

- JV put in the MOST testing kms of all drivers last year, while being denounced as lazy and difficult by DR.

- Honda finally picks it up for 2004.

- Willis after learning a lot (thanks to JV's testing!) develops a much better BAR his second time around in 2004.

- BAR switch to Michelin in 2004, which is probably just as big a factor as Willis's improvements on the chassis for this year. (again after JV openly complained about the treatment of Bridestone towards non-Ferrari teams)

- BAR have much to THANK JV for their 2004 success.

JV's critics have no case against him. The only thing they can hope for, as do I, is that JV is given the one last shot he deserves to prove himself in a competitive and RELIABLE car! With all the other boobs in F1 right now I think we have room for a former WDC!!! If he fails to deliver once given this shot I'll be the first one to state he deserves to be canned, and his critics can rejoice, but he has to be given that shot first!!!

[Gt_R]

Time will heal all wounds..

I must say kicking JV when he's down is really over-done so i'd keep my boots (for now)

So yes, JV fans..i sympathise with him (and that's why i wish him luck in racing other formula). He may not be great, but he definitely isn't a poor driver in any means...and can be a joy to watch though not one to listen.

[freud]

Originally posted by irhodes
how must jacque villeneuve be feeling? after being comprehensively out raced by button last year and being dumped by the team he helped build. then no other team in the paddock wanting his so called talents? now this year jenson has really taken the baton and ran with it, BAR are a different team, relaxed young enthusiastic - everything jacque isnt/wasnt. maybe if he hadnt be so short sighted and surrounded himself with paid sicophants and demanding extortionate wages to lets be hinest languish untryingly at the back of the field, he may well have been enjoying the new pace found at BAR.

Blame Pollock, not JV. Pollock is the greedy who systematically destroyed JV's career for the sake of his bank account. Pollock built BAR, got JV out of Williams, then did all his best to prevent JV from joining Mclaren and finally used JV as his weapon aginst DR. JV was the culprit all the way.... his fault just one.. he thought Pollock was his one true friend.

[Dick Spanner]

And obviously still does, seeing as Pollock is still his manager. Jacques could be advised by Pollock but not ordered, he was free to make his own choices and history shows he chose poorly. While you can blame Pollock for giving JV bad advice, I'm afraid JV shoulder's the blame for taking it. I am intrigued as to what exactly Pollock did to "prevent" JV from joining McLaren if indeed it was ever a possibility.

[ASCII Man]

This thread is started to provoke, not to start a debate as the starter isn't even interested in what the rest had to say.
**** him, I'm done with this ****.

[Wrex]

Me too, and I just got here!

The opening post was flame bait, and everything else as been posted before 100 times.

2 words : Short Leash.

[ralf fan]

Originally posted by minirda
Mind my words: DaMatta out, Jacques in... maybe even before GP Barcelona.

no way! or i certainly hope not!! at least Da Matta has chance to get better and make a worthy f1 career.

Both JV's have had their glory and are past their best.

[golem]

Wrex, kill this thread please. Someone. I'm fully tired of these kinda topics clogging up things.

[irhodes]

firstly let me aim this retort to Ascii man - i unfortunately have a life and do not sit looking at the forum for any responses to appear so i can instantly repost - sometimes life is better living it for real and not through a monitor you should try it ascii man.

i would also like to point out i do not hate JV i actually respected him when he first entered F1 for his ballsy approach and seat of the pants driving style. the years were not kind to JV's talent and to say (as one of the earlier replies stated) that they wouldnt have tried in an uncompetetive car...why the hell not??? surely 10+ million quid is incentive enough to try and get the job done he was impressing no one by his lack;lustre performances. I was merely trying to point out that after last year which was well documented, that JV must be feeling sick that he doesnt have a drive BAR or elsewhere. Sure JV did his fair share of testing but never replicated the input in race conditions.

Someone also mentioned that had I slagged of MS the forum would meltdown. Well, MS is without doubt the best driver at the moment, although there are some I feel are equal given the right equipment....but they shall remain anonymous for fear of further torment...hah hah. However, MS is not Ayrton or Prost.... for the vast majority of his time in F1 there has not been a credible competitor Hill, well good driver, great car, Hakkinen hmmm marginally better than hill possibly, JV was a big threat but left Williams and didnt go to a team that could challenge, montoya undoubtedly has the talent, probably the car but not the maturity or consistancy , yet... so in my opinion ( i am allowed to have one arent i?) there has been no consistant threat to him. MS is a fantastic driver and his back up at ferrari (brawn todt et al) are 2nd to none but lets not forget the records he has achieved are slightly diluted by the fact no one was really challengig him. I like him but he's no God.

I expect i will have a fatwa out on me now but you guys really need to look at the facts and not at the fanzines....

[Wrex]

and with that, 2 more words - choke chain.


Thread closed.

[ralf fan]

and that is the 100th JV thread close