Did Schumacher really said something about "chickens"?

[freud]

A commentator on Fox Sports reported that Michael Schumacher thinks there is nothing wrong with the Indianapolis track and that he'd prefer speeds of around 310 km/hr along the turn 13 bend because its "too close to a concrete wall and us European drivers are Chickens as compared to American drivers." (remember in CART it gets to plus 360 km/hr). Now did Michael really said that sort of stuff or is it just an example of American media joking about castration of high speed in formula one.

I have read at "Autorace" that Michael thinks that the Indianapolis track doesnt need any changes. Some other drivers think that the two chicanes before turn 11 need to be coverted to medium speed flowing corners so that a low downforce setting could be adapted thus the speeds of cars on pit-straight reaching upto 350 km/hr (as it does in Spa, Monza or Hockenheim.)

If Michael really said that sort of stuff ie European drivers are Chickens, then I must say he's wrong...he's the one who's chickening out not others.

[R]

From motorsport.com:
"It’s a good feeling going round the banking but because our entry speed is not so great we do not experience being on the limit. With the wall so close, I don’t want to experience it. We Europeans are probably more chicken than the Americans!" (Excerpt from interview with Michael Schumacher on Saturday, posted under "Saturday Ferrari notes".)

So... yeah, if the quote is correct, then he did say it!

[freud]

Thanks R. Its strange that the "Chicken" talks on behalf of all European drivers without their consent. His statement did worse to the impression of F1 which is already under criticism in the US for being a Car-oriented formula with overpaid and overhyped premadonnas.

[Redneck]

Lack of experience in that environment and knowing concrete is very unforgiving would make anyone fearful. All of the drivers had expressed concern over the wall, except JV. He apparently tried to comfort them by telling them they would not be carrying enough speed to put the turn to the test. After the first practice, drivers began to acknowledge that it was not that big of a deal. They referred to it as just a broad kink that could be taken at full throttle.

[Nuvolari]

I think it's pretty clear from the context that Michael's jesting.

I'm sure the cojones of top European racers are every bit the equal of the Americans'.

[Red]

Actually this is not exactly what I've read. From Atlas:
"If it rains for the race, my only concern is if there are rivers running across the track. We have not run in real rain conditions here, but if it rains in the warm-up we will get a chance to see what it's like. It's a good feeling going round the banking but because our entry speed is not so great we do not experience being on the limit. With the wall so close, I don't want to experience it. We Europeans are probably more chicken than the Americans!"

PS: I think he has the consent of the other drivers! Isn't he GPDA's chairman/spokesman or something like that?

[angst]

He is the drivers spokesman on issues of safety, but I don't believe that his personal opinions are necassarily(?) therefore backed up by his fellow drivers. He may have been speaking on their behalf, with their agreement but I don't think so.

[slicktoast]

Note that it says "more chicken than Americans..." implying that Americans are chicken but Europeans have a higher degree of chickenocity. Oh well.

[Redneck]

I agree with MS's comments being said in jest. I do not think there is any question as to their ability to disconnect between their brain and their balls.

But... real men race on 2 wheels!!!

[LYM]

Yeah he did say that jokingly. The US press kept wanting to know how the F1 is different from Indy 500 or NARSCA. F1 pales into shadow as a "tamer" racing compare to these 2, so MS had to give a tongue in cheek answer.

Didi he ask for consent? Dun think so from the fiery tiforsi!

[downforce]

er freud...jus in case u forgot...Michael won the race

Next time pick on his chin, thats real fun!!

[freud]

Look guys, Jacques is not the only driver who criticized straight line sppeds at Indy. I remember reading statements from Alesi, De La Rosa and Button about the lack of straight line speed. Now H.H. Frentzen has also spoken on the subject (Check Autorace). He says:

I was a bit disappointed with the Indy banking simply because we joined the oval circuit too late to have full speed through the banking. It was comfortably flat-out and no challenge at all - as long as the track was dry. It would have been better to join the speedway at the corner before and take the banking at top speed.

I am not trying to criticize the Indianapolis track but my point is that some drivers thought that due to lack of straight line speed the challenge decreased and nobody except Schumacher seem to like the lack of straight line speed. In historical context I remember reading an article by Martin Brundle sometime last year when he wrote that Michael was not muscling his Ferrari through the very high speeds corners like Blanchimont, 130 R and Becketts complex unlike Mika which made him believe that Mika is faster of the two. He wrote that during the 1996 Belgium GP qualifying session, both Mika and Michael sat out most of the morning warm-up session due to some car problems. During the qualifying session that afternoon Mika was brave enough to be flat out full throttle through Blanchimont while Michael was lifting and losing tenths. Similiarly at the 1998 Japanese GP qualifying session Mika was more committed and faster than MS through the 130 R. This impressed Martin tremendously. Similiarly I an article in Autosport (or may be F1 racing) in 1998 said that at the British GP 1998 both Mika and Jacques were sensational through the Becketts allowing them to gain advantage of their team-mates during the qualifying sessions.

[downforce]

...hmmm slow and steady wins the race??
Belgium'96...hah!

[freud]

You dont get my point. Its not about winning a race at all. You can put a Rosset in a Ferrari and he may win a race. The drivers at the back of grid do not win races but that doesnt mean they are any less faster than Mika or Michael. To be a true racing fan you must not narrow your mind to only focus at who is winning and who has the best statistics. Gilles won only 6 or so races yet he's one of the greatest drivers in f1 history.

Coming back to the topic, Taking risks to gain maximum out of high speed corners is a hallmark of great drivers. Ron Dennis once said that both Senna and Prost were pretty equal in terms of their driving and the difference only came during the very high speed corners where Senna just blew Prost away. Frank Williams also thought the same.

I still feel that some Michael fans wont be too happy with him for calling himself a "chicken" and pretending to apply the same rule to his other European contemporaries. May be Michael should open his mouth a bit less and stick to driving.

[Speed]

Wanna see a brave driver on speedy tracks ???, watch Montoya next year !!!

[Redneck]

Winning is the only thing... everything else sucks!

Ask any racer that has ever won, and he will agree.

[LYM]

Freud Dear:

Quote
"If Michael really said that sort of stuff ie European drivers are Chickens, then I must say he's wrong...he's the one who's chickening out not others. "

Extending from my previous massage, it's a cheeky comment Freud...cheeky.

Cool down now?:>

[Don K]

Originally posted by freud
You can put a Rosset in a Ferrari and he may win a race.

In a '96 Ferrari?

[R]

Erm... exactly where did you give Freud (dear) that massage, LYM?!?

[LYM]

....the 9th or 10th comment from the start I think.:>

[Bononi]

Just advertising talking. TGF is a truly representative of Bernie's interests...

[JeremySmith]

Well said Nuvorlari...I think that M Scuhmacher's comment's were purley in jest...Calm down guys...MS has proven he has the "stuff" time and time again....WDC 2000= M Schumacher

[Redneck]

Well said Jersound! Forza Ferrari!

[downforce]

Hoi freud!you makin me laugh baby!!?

"To be a true racing fan you must not narrow your mind to only focus at who is winning and who has the best statistics."...isn't that what YOU are doin...haha???

Your literally hangin on to evry word the man says!!!

btw Schuey doesnt understand the internet too much...so shoot, my only advice being dont call him dumb, he takes Eau Rouge flat out !!

[freud]

Don K

Law of probability says Rosset could've done it. The car was fast but unreliable.

LYM

So you think Michael's thoughts on Suzuka that it is a "dangerous" track are also cheeky?

Downforce

We are discussing a statement from Michael which created controversy. Mika or DC didnt say anything like that, if they had may be we'd be discussing them. Think in a broad perspective. Compare Schumi to someone like Frentzen or Jacques who love the challenge of driving an f1 car on its limit. Read the statements from Martin Brundle who thinks Mika is faster than Schumacher and is on a different level at the high speed corners. I believe Michael is truly great over the manipulating chicanes when he breaks a little late and turns in early...he just chickens out at the ultra-fast corners I know Schumacher may not have the know-how of the internet but he's not as dumb as you think he is. Cheers.