2 replies to this topic

[Mohican]

Just re-read the driver-car-combinations-that-did-not-happen thread, which set me to thinking:

We know all about drivers making the wrong decisions at any given time (Chris Amon, Emerson Fittipladi, Ronnie Peterson, etc) but what about such combinations that did not happen due to the driver turning down what conventional wisdom regarded a dream opportunity ?

Here is a good example:

Kenny Brack turned down the Arrows F1 team for the '98 season (after finishing second in the '97 F3000 championship), which was seen as very foolish at the time. Brack instead went off to the US to become IRL champion and win the Indy 500 in consecutive years - he probably also made rather more money than he would have as a backmarker in F1.

Can you think of other examples ?

[William Hunt]

There are so many example.

A wise decision was done by Thierry Boutsen when he reject an offer go to the new Larrouse Lola team in '87, he signed with Benetton instead.

[Viktor]

Originally posted by Mohican

Kenny Brack turned down the Arrows F1 team for the '98 season (after finishing second in the '97 F3000 championship), which was seen as very foolish at the time. Brack instead went off to the US to become IRL champion and win the Indy 500 in consecutive years - he probably also made rather more money than he would have as a backmarker in F1.

He turnd down a "invite" to drive the Pacific car in the last 2 or 3 races of the 1995 season. But I dont think he turned down a chanse to be a full time driver for Arrows in 1997 (he was second in F3000 in 96 and moved to IRL in 97). He was Arrows test driver but quit when he did not get as many tests as he was promised. He had a contract with Tom and the contract was first with Ligier but when Tom moved to Arrows Kenny moved with him as it was Toms contract.

/Viktor