Eddie Irv: Second Best

drexel · 26 Jul 2001, 15:16 (Ref:122113)

Quote:

Eddie says...
"I think as an overall package that I'm better than all of them except Michael," the Irish driver told this week's Autosport. "Anyone who says that they are equal to Michael is either a liar or naive. We all want to be in that position, but no-one can stand up and say it. The guy as a driver is second to none.

"Last year I destroyed my teammate [Johnny Herbert] who'd been quicker than Hakkinen. Everyone thought Johnny was going to see me off but he wasn't even close. He properly outqualified me twice. I'm doing a similar job this year."

"It's a shame, I really would have liked to have gone there [McLaren] against Mika and if that had happened then the myth that Mika is on the same planet as Michael would have died," he said. "I would have brought a lot more to the team than Ron's two current drivers. Because what I learnt at Ferrari was so comprehensive."

What's amazing is that he might actually be right!

**bella** · 26 Jul 2001, 15:19 (Ref:122115)

i admire his reasoning and self confidence. and having read the interview, he seems to be quite reasonable in his assumptions.
however, i do think in reality he's wide of the mark.
he was trying so hard at silverstone he couldn't get past an arrows.

Claire · 26 Jul 2001, 15:26 (Ref:122119)

I think that what he says is true put him in a decent car and he would be giving the "big boys" a run for their money. I think he's great and I am glad he speaks his mind the rest of the them can be so boring.

JeremySmith · 26 Jul 2001, 15:28 (Ref:122121)

I don't think he's wide of the mark Bella..Remember DC could not pass an Arrows either, where was it now?

**bella** · 26 Jul 2001, 15:34 (Ref:122126)

ah, but i've never been a fan of coulthard anyway...

claire, i think if you put most f1 drivers in a good car they'll give the big boys a run for their money. eddie does have flashes of extremem brilliance, but they're just too far apart. i wouldn't sign him for my team, i'd rather take a kid on and see what they have to offer. even if he does have extensive knowledge of ferrari and how a big team works.

anyone read the bit where he kind of defends jenson?

Claire · 26 Jul 2001, 15:37 (Ref:122127)

Bella I don't necessarily agree. I feel to be a good driver you need talent, it doesn't matter what car you have underneath you if you haven't got what it takes you'll be at the back.

Liz · 26 Jul 2001, 16:33 (Ref:122143)

Anybody who makes it to F1 has automatically got more talent than most, I think.

When we were at Monza in 1999, there was a noticeable lack of enthusiasm about Eddie in the grandstand where we were sitting. On the way out of qualifying I heard someone say, "Well, that Salo was faster than Eddie." And his companion replied, "No matter who you put in the other car, he's going to be faster than Eddie."

If Irvine had one mph for every word he spoke, he'd be halfway to Andromeda by now.

Raven · 26 Jul 2001, 17:36 (Ref:122163)

It's fine for Eddie to make these comments sitting in the one-car Jaguar team, with only 2 or 3 years left, picking on drivers who have accomplished more than he could ever dream of.

Why doesn't this guy start talking about how he's gonna help Jaguar improve, instead of teams and drivers he isn't worthy of.

JeremySmith · 26 Jul 2001, 19:35 (Ref:122226)

Quote:

Originally posted by Raven
Why doesn't this guy start talking about how he's gonna help Jaguar improve, instead of teams and drivers he isn't worthy of.

I think that is a little unfair Raven..It seem's to me that Eddie Irvine has been trying hard to help Jaguar improve..I doubt that he enjoys driving such a non competitive car..

Regards.....Jeremy

ozywoodwards · 26 Jul 2001, 20:39 (Ref:122255)

I would like to see Irvine keep as close to TGF as Hakkinen did at Suzuka last year, or comprehensively beat him as Hakkinen did at the Nurburgring in '99 etc etc.

Lets face it Irvine isn't on the same planet as Hakkinen.

Gt_R · 26 Jul 2001, 22:31 (Ref:122299)

But i saw him on the same planet as DC and Rubens.

Minardi fan · 27 Jul 2001, 00:09 (Ref:122324)

Irvine doesn't come close to Mika, but I would put him ahead of both Coulthard and in particular Rubens in terms of driving talent.

However, I agree that Eddie should just try and keep his gob shut for a bit, and continue doing the decent job he is doing for Jaguar.

JeremySmith · 27 Jul 2001, 01:59 (Ref:122351)

If Eddie's talent was not close to Mika Hakkinen's..Would he be driving an F1 car period??? Just a thought.

Go Minardi..

EERO · 27 Jul 2001, 02:13 (Ref:122354)

Its a darned arrogant set of comments. Even if he really believes it, its strikes me as bad taste.

Unfortunately, he'll never get to prove his assertions because he'll never be in a front line car again.

Sure he's talented, but other than 1999, he hasn't had much chance to prove it.

senna12 · 27 Jul 2001, 02:43 (Ref:122356)

Quote:

Originally posted by EERO

Unfortunately, he'll never get to prove his assertions because he'll never be in a front line car again.

I suspect Jaguar may be his last ride, period.

JeremySmith · 27 Jul 2001, 03:15 (Ref:122364)

Quote:

Originally posted by EERO
Its a darned arrogant set of comments. Even if he really believes it, its strikes me as bad taste.

Unfortunately, he'll never get to prove his assertions because he'll never be in a front line car again.

Sure he's talented, but other than 1999, he hasn't had much chance to prove it.

I aggree EERO that Eddie's comments sound a bit arrogant..But he speaks his mind at least he is honest and not trying to be a polictical puppet..

Neil C · 27 Jul 2001, 03:24 (Ref:122366)

It may have been bad taste to say it, but if Eddie (or any driver) does not believe they are equal or better than anyone else, they will cease to be racers, since they will have already been defeated in their own minds.

In fact, the surprising part of the statement is his public admission that he is not MS's equal. That is a hard pill for a comptitor to swallow, much less admit in public.

JeremySmith · 27 Jul 2001, 03:29 (Ref:122367)

He has allways felt that way Neil with regards to his talent's versus Michael Schumacher This is not the first time he has stated that he is not as good..Quite a bitter pill all the same..

DMC · 27 Jul 2001, 03:34 (Ref:122370)

Quote:

Originally posted by Claire
I think that what he says is true put him in a decent car and he would be giving the "big boys" a run for their money.

Mika Salo used to say that too. A great driver will be fast in any car and the Jaguar R2 is no Benetton B201.

**Peter Mallett** · 27 Jul 2001, 05:47 (Ref:122428)

For those who will obviously compare my reply here to my thoughts concerning JPM I should make it clear that whilst JPM has yet to prove himself, Eddie damn nearly won the WDC against some stiff oppostion. So from that perspective he's perfectly entitled to his point of view.

Another point is that he admits a failing whilst others don't, so it is quite refreshing and it counterpoints his words from the "wind up" topic a few days ago.

I hope he does get the chance to run at the front again because he's certainly trying with the Jaguar at present.

JeremySmith · 27 Jul 2001, 05:52 (Ref:122431)

Quote:

Originally posted by Peter Mallett
For those who will obviously compare my reply here to my thoughts concerning JPM I should make it clear that whilst JPM has yet to prove himself, Eddie damn nearly won the WDC against some stiff oppostion. So from that perspective he's perfectly entitled to his point of view.

Another point is that he admits a failing whilst others don't, so it is quite refreshing and it counterpoints his words from the "wind up" topic a few days ago.

I hope he does get the chance to run at the front again because he's certainly trying with the Jaguar at present.

And there you have it...I could not have said it better myself...which is why Peter posted it!

And I did not

RussianFriend · 27 Jul 2001, 15:01 (Ref:122631)

Quote:

Originally posted by DMC

Mika Salo used to say that too. A great driver will be fast in any car and the Jaguar R2 is no Benetton B201.

And Eddie was fast..in Monaco.

Speed · 27 Jul 2001, 15:22 (Ref:122636)

Ladies and gentlemen, pay attention to this and you'll see what he wants is the 2nd Ferrari car...

"I think as an overall package that I'm better than all of them except Michael,"

"I would have brought a lot more to the team than Ron's two current drivers. Because what I learnt at Ferrari was so comprehensive."

In addition, he spends a lot of his time, talking about how bad is Rubens.

That's my naive and honest point of view.

EERO · 27 Jul 2001, 17:04 (Ref:122658)

Today's times in Germany make this an even more interesting conversation.

I don't know whether to admire him for his cheek or loathe him for his boorishness.

Mekola · 27 Jul 2001, 17:47 (Ref:122669)

He's not the second best, is the second beast...

Arghhh... F1 is now in more and more decadence... Young promises from kart and F.Renault destroys the way for hard-working talents who are on F3, F3000 or F1 Testers... Arrogant number one drivers pleas that the others are mediocre... Frentzen sacked, and GPDA (knock, knock!) exists? Or only for security reasons? Who is and where is the GPDA president??? Where are the voice of the drivers??? Managers can fire his drivers that easily??? ... The solidarity don't exist in F1, each team had the fear that the other can copy one of his exclusive systems, playing a spy-game between the top teams... Battles and battles between two or three teams, with the rest playing as "these small buddies, what disturb some but also can be used as excuses to beat our rivals..."... Ecclestone playing his ever-arrogant menace "I can get out F1 of European tracks when I want, and forcing European institutions and car manufacturers to make what he wants with this awful menace... And Mosley playing the role as the leg of Sir Oswald Mosley, watching him as the Führer of the motorsport organisation... Not enought seats, and many negotiations to get the rid at least in the Minardi, but not throught the talent of drivers but with the capability of negotiation of his managers (Mungler, Ramirez, Weber, Robertson are good examples)...

And Fontana NOT in F1 (MY BIGGEST PAIN)!!!!

BUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!

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