Sato at the historic GP

[steve nielsen]

Takuma Sato's Historic Monaco Grand Prix adventure ended today [Saturday] after he touched a wall at the swimming pool complex damaging the Lotus 1968 49B.
Although the damage was slight it is enough to end Takuma's participation in tomorrow's event.

Taku said: "It was very, very slippery where it occurred. I was really enjoying it and the power was ok but there was just so much oil and I was perhaps carrying to much speed into the corner."

"Unfortunately [Classic Team Lotus] don't have any spare parts here. It's such a shame but whenever I race I drive hard and want to do well. Maybe I tried too much I'm not sure.

"I am very grateful though to have been given this opportunity and would like to thank the team for there support. They have done a fantastic job."

Asked how much the experience would help him next weekend at the Monaco GP proper, Takuma added: "Conditions were very, very bad today. I think it will help me a little bit as the circuit is so unique. It's just a shame it wasn't dry."

"I am really looking forward to it [the Monaco GP] now though, especially after my big accident last week."

"I am feeling much better now and although my knee is a bit sore hopefully I can give my fans something to cheer about next weekend "
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well, that does'nt look too good for next week, EJ can better bring an extra truck for the spare parts.

[Tristan]

I KNEW!! I KNEW he'd ding it. Fool.

[El_Gibleto]

I think Takuma should be applauded for even attempting to take part. It's unfortunate he went off, but he was trying to get the most from the car, as always. I'd much rather have a drive who tries all the time than someone who just cruises round.

Give Taka a chance, i doubt if any new driver would have done any better in the very poor car that Jordan have produced this year.

[LucaBadoer]

Well done Taku!

[Spudgun]

Doh!

[spookyD]

Well said El Gibleto, I totally agree with you, I think that people aren't giving Taka a chance to prove how well he can drive, I watched his performance at the British GP and at Zandvoort and I believe that we have a potential champion in the making

[Lee Janotta]

I told ya! That ****ing idiot!

At least the car can be repaired...

[neilap]

Taku! You are making this very difficult. Its a shame, I am losing faith slowly. Its not gone yet, but its fading.

[Sato san]

Originally posted by Lee Janotta
I told ya! That ****ing idiot!

come on...no need for that mate, why get offesive about it !

in actual fact the damage was really quite minor , its only that they have no spares for it that he cant get back out for the race .

In a way , its quite funny , i think we all new there was a good chance of this happening didnt we . , Taku didnt seem to unhappy as it was mainly for fun .

I bet the team were relieved when the car is basically still in one piece !! lol

[calais]

you must admit, sato san, he is making life hard for himself by doing stupidities like this.
if yoong can keep it of the barriers AND come second, sato couldve at least driven with more maturity.

[DNQ]

Oh god....the poor bloke
Everything associated with F1 turns to rubbish when he touches it - hope he has some better luck some time. But then again, they say you create your own luck, and Takuma has hardly helped himself along in that department.

[Dino IV]

What Sato did was rather onfortunate than behaving like an idiot as suggested above. He's a young charger who was not hired to drive a Concours d'Elegance. It much more goes to show that he grabs the opportunity to take that pre-aero Lotus 49 on and drive it around Monaco - even on a soaking wet track - against a much stiffer competition with F1 cars up until a decade ahead in development, most notibly in the aerodynamic department, but also in driveability.

The showing of Sato and Yoong also demands some respect in regard to the rest of the current F1 crop, who really don't want to put there carefully polished positions in danger as an hardly unexpectable barrier-touch like Sato encountered would mean a lot more uproar if it would have happend to the established Schu's, DC and the likes.

The fact that Sato was invited to drive (and Yoong) shows that the entrants wanted the cars to be driven by young chargers and not simply wandered around the track. Some blocks like the US' MacAllister with his #1 Ferrari 312 T2 hardly shows up for tough competition but more for having a couple of laps at Monaco. He didn't even bother to bring wet tyres and went around way over a minute (!) slower than guys like Flavien Marcais who was seriously putting the pedal to the metal in his BRM P180. He posted times almost 6 seconds faster than the opposition in the wet which is quite impressive. It was a shame this guy couldn't get more laps down in the race.

That eventually Yoong was a class of his own in the race should have done the little Malaysian a lot of good for his self-confidence. The Lotus 72 he drove was already in its days a serious top-gun but that was in the hands of such an incredible driver as Peterson, not notibly Alex Yoong-types. Nevertheless Yoong drove off and it was only because he was stuck in fifth after the safety-car period that he lost out against Martin Stretton in the last lap to finish second. That's hardly a shame as Martin has been a dominating factor in TGP with his perfectly prepared Tyrrell six-wheeler.

All in all a great show now they're running F1 cars up until 1979 as well, so as fans it's probably one of the coolest weeks to have a holiday for. This weekend Historic GP with pre-war up until seventies GP cars racing through the streets of Monaco. And the next weekend the Big Bernie Show comes to town so you'll have a sniff of today's F1 parade as well. Inbetween a week at the beaches of Southern France or a visit to tracks in France or Northern Italy. A seriously good trip to consider for next year.

Cheers,
Dino

PS: For results and pictures check Automobile Club de Monaco, Historic Grand Prix.

[R]

Welcome back, Dino.

[f1manoz]

Takuma manages to dent yet another car, but ALEX YOONG of all people was quite impressive. Who'd have thought the lad could actually drive a car!

[Adam43]

Cheers Dino.

Just an observation, but it is funny how this thread has had more replies than the Young thread!

Good on them both for having a go (and at the same time taking advantage of the opportunity to get some experience for the GP).

Wouldn't it be great to see more of the current crop of F1 drivers out there...

[Sato san]

Originally posted by calais
you must admit, sato san, he is making life hard for himself by doing stupidities like this.
.

i see your point Calais and i agree to a some degree , but surley youve got to admit that what ever he does now it seems everyone blows it right out of proportion . The way people talk is like he wrote off the car , rather than doing some light damage through sliding off on oil or something at the swimming pool complex . He admittedhe was pushing it a bit too hard at the time as well. It really isnt that much of a big deal , but people then try to make something much bigger out of it .

Anyway , i found it as funny as everyone else when i read it as a lot of us predicted that he would bash the barriers in the Lotus at some point of the weekend ......its just i try and keep it in proportion of what it is thats all.

[Glen]

Such a shame that we didn't get to see Yoong and Sato - Yoong proved that the standard for F1 is far higher than many give credit for, and I'm certain that Sato would have given a very good account of himself... It's just a shame that his charging gung-ho style over-rode the need to be very, very careful around the streets of Monte Carlo - for his and Jordan's sake I hope that he takes this lesson on-board next Sunday. A finish should be an absolute minimum requirement for him.

[Sato san]

I think Yoong has gain a fair bit of respect for what he acheived on Sunday , i didnt think he would do as well as he did . Good on him

[Glen]

We agree there, Sato san! I think it was a ten lap race - as far as I can remember that must the longest he's ever spent on the black stuff in his entire F1 career!

Fisichella is virtually alone in his ability to out-do his team-mates (guess who the only other current driver to do this is!) so Sato should just forget about that and get the Jordan home in one piece.

[Marcel ten Caat]

Seeing that picture of Sato, looks like there is a camera on top of that car.

Wonder if they will put a lap onboard the Lotus 49 with Sato online.

[Sato san]

that would be one scarey ride , but i would love to see it .

[neilap]

At least he has some experience with the track. He really needs to finish, and finish well. Also, I think I know what car Yoong should drive in the next GP.