Phantom
03-30-2002, 08:34 AM
Who's your F1 pick, and why???
I'm partial to Montoya partly 'cuz he didn't get the respect he was due in his premier F1 season. Ralf bad-mouthed him, the press tried to downtalk him (mentioning things like the proverbial "hot-headed Latin temperament"--what a crock. Nobody said that about Senna), and just about no one gave him credit for such an outstanding rookie year performance.
People are slow to remember that 2001 was his rookie year, like Kimi Raikkonen. Consider the obstacles he faced last season like being rear-ended at Brazil, botched pit actions and resulting overheated blown motors, and being the new kid on his team (although he did test for them prior to his foray into CART).
For several years Michael has enjoyed the advantage of a well-run team custom-built for the purpose of making HIM the champion with the supporting cast of Rubens Barrichello, whereas Montoya joined an established team with Ralf as the established driver. On top of that, he's a double-underdog. Not only is he going head-to-head with Michael Schumacher, he also has Michael's little brother as a TEAMMATE!!
The guy has to have CHARACTER to deal with all that BS, keep the press at bay, win over his BMW-Williams team members, challenge the world champion and outperform his teammate in his rookie year, and still come from a relatively unheard of country (Columbia) not known for producing great drivers.
I wish y'all could have seen him at the Malaysian GP. Michael pulled his customary "zag across the track to pinch the second grid position" (Damn, this move is tired), and JP wasn't having any of it. He jinked left and went around the outside of Michael, (the OUTSIDE!!), into Turn 1, only to be unjustly penalized after the follow-on contact. Even Michael himself commented that the penalty was uncalled for.
The show I suspect TV audiences missed was the drive both Michael and Montoya put on from the back of the field. Montoya sliced relentlessly through the grid, filling mirrors and picking cars off like an expert surgeon removing hapless track tumors. I witnessed first-hand as he would march up behind the next car and perform the cold, calculated pass, one of them around the outside in the final turn. He's got my respect, not because he finished in 2nd, but because he DROVE his ass to 2nd.
I get the impression that JP is making it very clear in Michael's head (and everyone else's, for that matter) that Montoya is here to win races, period, and to hell with all this hype about the current world champion and the Ferrari mystique.
I'm partial to Montoya partly 'cuz he didn't get the respect he was due in his premier F1 season. Ralf bad-mouthed him, the press tried to downtalk him (mentioning things like the proverbial "hot-headed Latin temperament"--what a crock. Nobody said that about Senna), and just about no one gave him credit for such an outstanding rookie year performance.
People are slow to remember that 2001 was his rookie year, like Kimi Raikkonen. Consider the obstacles he faced last season like being rear-ended at Brazil, botched pit actions and resulting overheated blown motors, and being the new kid on his team (although he did test for them prior to his foray into CART).
For several years Michael has enjoyed the advantage of a well-run team custom-built for the purpose of making HIM the champion with the supporting cast of Rubens Barrichello, whereas Montoya joined an established team with Ralf as the established driver. On top of that, he's a double-underdog. Not only is he going head-to-head with Michael Schumacher, he also has Michael's little brother as a TEAMMATE!!
The guy has to have CHARACTER to deal with all that BS, keep the press at bay, win over his BMW-Williams team members, challenge the world champion and outperform his teammate in his rookie year, and still come from a relatively unheard of country (Columbia) not known for producing great drivers.
I wish y'all could have seen him at the Malaysian GP. Michael pulled his customary "zag across the track to pinch the second grid position" (Damn, this move is tired), and JP wasn't having any of it. He jinked left and went around the outside of Michael, (the OUTSIDE!!), into Turn 1, only to be unjustly penalized after the follow-on contact. Even Michael himself commented that the penalty was uncalled for.
The show I suspect TV audiences missed was the drive both Michael and Montoya put on from the back of the field. Montoya sliced relentlessly through the grid, filling mirrors and picking cars off like an expert surgeon removing hapless track tumors. I witnessed first-hand as he would march up behind the next car and perform the cold, calculated pass, one of them around the outside in the final turn. He's got my respect, not because he finished in 2nd, but because he DROVE his ass to 2nd.
I get the impression that JP is making it very clear in Michael's head (and everyone else's, for that matter) that Montoya is here to win races, period, and to hell with all this hype about the current world champion and the Ferrari mystique.