Is this true ?

[Run Free]

from JV eXpress:
Schumacher wants JV out
During the drivers' briefing at Indianapolis on Sunday morning, Michael Schumacher said he wanted Jacques Villeneuve out of the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers' Association).

Does anyone here know if that's true?
I should not surprised if it is.... knowing what a kind of person is TGF.

[Adam43]

I don't think JV will be that bothered.

[Inigo Montoya]

Actually he's only been in the driver's association for a couple of years. He was, for a long time, the only driver not to join.

If he were to leave the association (or F1 altogether), would anyone miss him?

[BBKing]

I have seen this in another forum. I have no reason to believe is not true.

On the other hand I also heard that they are thinking on a new name for GPDA which would be SSDA (Schumacher Supporters Drivers Association)....LOL

[Bononi]

Whatis JV eXpress ???

[bernoldi chic]

would i miss jv??

eeeerrrrrrm no not particulary

[EERO]

Originally posted by bernoldi chic
would i miss jv??

eeeerrrrrrm no not particulary

Gee, B-chic, are YOU in the GPDA?



Jacques doesn't give a flying fig what anyone thinks of him. Despite his friendship with Coulthard they don't always see eye to eye on safety issues.

It is interesting to me that TGF has assumed a leadership role on safety issues where he once gave the politics of the sport little thought.

Much as Senna became the champion of Safety towards the end of his career, Schumacher has become more sensative to the risks and more outspoken. Jacques hell-bent-for-leather attitude is completely at odds with Schumacher's.

[Inigo Montoya]

Originally posted by EERO

Much as Senna became the champion of Safety towards the end of his career, Schumacher has become more sensative to the risks and more outspoken. Jacques hell-bent-for-leather attitude is completely at odds with Schumacher's.

How ironic are those two facts? Lets hope that Schummi doesn't go the way of Gilles and Aryton

[I Ate Yoko Ono]

As drivers get older they do seem to get more worried about safety - esp if they have families, have won the WDC, have earned more money than they can spend etc etc. James Hunt was the same.

So many of the "invincible" drivers have tragically ended up dying, TGF doesn't want to join them. It wasn't just Ayrton, think of Jim Clark, Gilles Villeneuve, Earnhardt in stock cars.

[ljakse]

As far as I understans this GPDA is mostly about safety issues.
I rember a quote of Gilles Villeneuve he made in the beggining if '82 season. I won't be quoting him, coz I don't remember exact words, but he said something about to many guys out there (in F1) were thinking about their safety, and they're only having their job done, while very few of them actually RACE.
Do you expect a son of a person who said that and died few months later to be concerned about safety in racing?
I don't.

[Gt_R]

Ignoring what Michael wants of JV...

It wouldn't make a difference if JV is in GDPA.
1) He doesnt give a hoot about what is being discussed, and negatively, he often goes against the general consensus.
2) He just joined GDPA, but he only did because he wanted to have a say in things. i don't really remember where i read it, but it is reported that JV joined GDPA becauase he was furious nobody paid any attention to his words on one incident. So he joined it for his own benefit.
3) Compared to DC and Michael, JV had hardly any contribution to GDPA. And love him or hate him, Michael had done more in a race for GDPA than JV did in a season. JV is only there to make up the no.

This sounds harsh..but its true. Be fair to Michael, rid of all the displeasure you have for this guy, and you'd appreciate what he does. It is not a must that he do this...but he did, together with many other drivers, to strive for the safety of the drivers. I dislike DC, but considering his contribution, i wouldnt want to see him flop either.

And whether i'd miss him if he leaves GDPA, no. Considering his current F1 form, i wouldn't even miss him if he leaves F1. The same applies from Marques to Mika and Michael. If you can be on top, you stay. Or out.

He said drivers should be fair and give fans entertainment and excitement that's worth the money they are paid. So if JV cannot provide what fans are out for, he ought to go and be fair to us!

Advice JV , try working out your car and set up before you do anything else. The reason why Michael could have time to do all this, and play soccer, etc is because he has the time since he's on top. You're not, you have probs and so...go solve them first!

[Adam43]

Th GPDA doesn't seem to achieve much. The Monza safety issue was a perfect case. They should have been discussing Monza's chicanes nearly 12 months ago and not on the morning of the race.

I stress the discussion aspect too. It is not for one driver (whoever that may be) to decide what is the correct behavoiur for them all.

The GPDA has no power and choses not to exercise it's weight.

I think JV sees that his opinion counts for nothing if he is in the GPDA or if he is not. At least this was he is not associated with it.

The GPDA is a good idea, but it doesn't really have any point to it at present. Which is a shame.

[Gt_R]

Do you know what exactly the GPDA represents?

It not only seeks for driver's safety issuse, but other driver related issues. To say it has achieved nothing is undermining the association, although it seems to be losing its foothold now as the sports get increasingly commercialised.

"They should have been discussing Monza's chicanes nearly 12 months ago and not on the morning of the race."

It's a pretty fixed view people have regarding this. There are doubts over the safety of the chicanes even before the Monza crash last year. Concerns were voiced, drivers were wary... but nothing much were brought up. And the attempt to avoid overtaking is just to ensure a safe race. The worries were manifested after Zinardi's incident....which happened just hours before the race...so how is that supposed to take place 12mths before is beyond me.


"I stress the discussion aspect too. It is not for one driver (whoever that may be) to decide what is the correct behavoiur for them all."

is that one driver you are mentioning named Jacques? Because of him being the only driver to reject the idea outright, causing the breakdown of the agreement?
If you noticed, there WAS a discussion going on. And in a discussion, somebody has to bring out a point to discuss, which Michael did voice as Head of GPDA. David (co-head)Alesi and Ralf were in fact whole heartedly supporting Michael's view w/o hesitation. Some drivers do not mind going along at all ie Montoya who had pole, and others, who would prefer a proper start, were willing to go along if majority of the drivers agree. All agreed until JV came along.

Not to say its JV's fault. Nope...but it's definitely far from Michael's fault. And he did not impose upon drivers his orders, neither did he decide...he just brought up what he thought (isnt this a quality people see in JV and JPM?!!!) and that more drivers than not disagreed...

[Adam43]

Originally posted by Gt_R
although it seems to be losing its foothold now as the sports get increasingly commercialised.

Which was my point. Although I'm not sure it is just down to the evil commercialisation.

Originally posted by Gt_R
The worries were manifested after Zinardi's [sic] incident....which happened just hours before the race...so how is that supposed to take place 12mths before is beyond me.

Zanardi's accident was extremely tragic and it upset me a great deal, but it has no bearing on chicane's in Monza.

Discussion on the morning of the race and indeed the grid strikes me as being wholly unproductive and potential damaging.

"whoever it may be" is just that - whoever it may be. This is not an anti-MS comment (so I am sorry if it appeared to be). You are right - at least he bothers to be president of the GPDA. However at present the GPDA does not have (or seems to have, which is just as important) any power or gets things achieved.

The GPDA is perceived to be weak and pointless, that is the thing that undermines it.

[Run Free]

Originally posted by BBKing
they are thinking on a new name for GPDA which would be SSDA (Schumacher Supporters Drivers Association)....LOL

Great one, King!

Bononi, jvexpress is a JV dedicated site that this year has been inglobed on jacques.villeneuve.com

Generally speaking about TGF's concerns about safety: when did he make his last dangerous move? I don't remeber as I'm not at all interested in what happens at the so-called top those days, but I feel it's not so long ago...maybe the move on his own brother?

[BootsOntheSide]

"The worries were manifested after Zinardi's incident....which happened just hours before the race...so how is that supposed to take place 12mths before is beyond me. "

I'm sorry but that is utter ****. If it weren't for the WTC and Zanardi (please get the spelling right next time!) none of this discussion would have happened. Schuamcher had 11 months to sort out the percieved safety problems. Villeneuve was telling the truth- they were there to race, and show the world that terrorism can't stop us, and put on a good show for the crowd.

[BBKing]

Schumacher and Villeneuve should take their fights to a box ring. Cut the bull**** and let it out instead of *****ing like old ladies.

Everything is as dangerous as you want it to be. Schumacher has not been an axample of a guy who respects the others while on the track. That is fair racing but cut the bull**** about dangerous starts. Racing is dangerous, that is why they get paid millions. If it is too dangerous for them then pack it up and say goodbye...

[Red]

Originally posted by AdamAshmore
Th GPDA doesn't seem to achieve much. The Monza safety issue was a perfect case. They should have been discussing Monza's chicanes nearly 12 months ago and not on the morning of the race.

You miss the point. The discussion was not about the safety of the chicanes. This is something that GPDA (I mean Michael and David; and if I’m not mistaking Frenzy is also a co-head) and FIA talk all over the year (not only concerning 2 chicanes at Monza). It was not only the fear of an accident. The problem was that the drivers were deeply affected by the September 11 and, if that was not enough, a day before the start Alex’ accident. So, the big concern was that the drivers might not be properly focused, that is the possibility of a mistake was greatly increased.

[Adam43]

Red you certainly haven't missed the point. That is the point - the events on Sunday morning didn't help the drivers, effectively creating a more dangerous situation. If any driver felt that he couldn't drive because of the previous events then he should not start the race at all.

I for one would have respected that decision and it certainly is a lot better than causing an ill timed and emotional debate.

If they are going to start but not race then what is the point.

[Red]

I didn't want to say that. Someone said that they should definitelly race to prove terorists that they cannot control anyone's life. They should race, but they're humans, they were not 100% in parameters. So why not a compromise? Let's behave first lap, first corner when everyone tries to gain positions after that go for it. About the ill timed debate, sorry but I strongly disagree. They kept it low-profile, however there are journalists.

[Adam43]

I'm not sure the journalists are to blame.

As for the just racing a bit. I don't agree, all or nothing.

[Gt_R]

Ah Red... i have to say, you phrased what certain things that i want to say better than i did...

The point is not to avoid racing, but to avoid another mishap. People were edgy getting into the race, and so why not just practice some cautious to ensure things go without a hitch?

As for the "grid strikes"... hmm... i actually thought it is blown out of proportion by the media. There were just some discussions, and some agreement (and disagreement)... i don't actually see much fireworks, so i assume its something dramatised by the media!

Actually, the GPDA does achieve more than we know of. Much of the improvement in safety from FIA were rallied by GPDA, and even the redesign of Silverstone approval and consultation were made with GPDA's head DC and MS.

If paying millions mean we can sit back and do nothing for the drivers safety, i think its out of mind...

[Raoul Duke]

Originally posted by BBKing

Everything is as dangerous as you want it to be. Schumacher has not been an axample of a guy who respects the others while on the track. That is fair racing but cut the bull**** about dangerous starts. Racing is dangerous, that is why they get paid millions. If it is too dangerous for them then pack it up and say goodbye...

Well said BB. Amidst all the talk about safety issues people are missing a very important point. This is racing, to say that people shouldn't race each other at the start and follow each other around in a procession because of the potential risks involved is really quite ridiculous(for lack of a better word). If your a professional racing driver, your paid to go out there and race hard. Risk will always be a part of the sport, nothing short of destroying the racing completly will change that. I was far from impressed at TGF's attempt to form that drivers agreement at the start of race at Monza, and I was even less impressed with his rather petty comments about JV for daring to have the guts to stand up and go against the farce that TGF was trying to organise. Of course given the current circumstances of what was going on the the world at the time, I didn't say anything about it because I didn't want to cause a big brawl, but right now I feel it must be said. TGF has immense talent as a driver, but sometimes his ego is ten times bigger then his talent. If only he spent less time inflating that ego and more time concentrating on what he's paid to do, drive a race car .

[Red]

I always thought that racing is about driving car fast on the track. Apparently I was wrong. Whoa... racing = risk. That’s it? Nothing more?

PS: They are paid big bucks, right, but not because the danger. There are guys on the grid who actually PAY for risking their lives.

[Raoul Duke]

Originally posted by Red
I always thought that racing is about driving car fast on the track. Apparently I was wrong. Whoa... racing = risk. That’s it? Nothing more?

PS: They are paid big bucks, right, but not because the danger. There are guys on the grid who actually PAY for risking their lives.

But where do you draw the line on what is acceptable and what is not?. This is, afterall, a competitive sport, people have a job to get in their cars and get results for themselves and their teams, that's why it's called racing and not "stay in single file everyone, no funny bussiness now, we don't want any accidents, ok?". Don't you think that this whole thing concerning the start of monza was maybe just a little far fetched?.