Stop playing dirty
Ex-Ferrari champ Scheckter calls for fair play as season enters final two grands prix
WALTER BUCHIGNANI
The Gazette
Keep it clean, boys.
That's the message from the last man to win a drivers' title for Ferrari - 21 long years ago - as the Formula One season heads into its last two races, beginning with Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.
"Let's have a straight fight for the title," South African Jody Scheckter appealed in Britain's Sunday Mirror newspaper. "I hate to see teammates get involved in a situation like this."
Scheckter was alluding to accusations by Ferrari's Michael Schumacher that rival David Coulthard - with nothing to gain - tried to block him at the U.S. Grand Prix to help McLaren-Mercedes teammate Mika Hakkinen.
"The trouble is it's so easy for one car to hold up another," said Scheckter, the 1979 world champion. "Hopefully, we won't see it in the two races left. Let's have Schumacher and Hakkinen out in front going for it."
Wise words, but is anyone listening?
Schumacher has since backpedaled in his criticism of Coulthard, saying a review of the videotape convinced him that the Scot's attempt at blocking was fair, after all.
"From the cockpit I got a certain view of the situation, especially because he made contact with me," the German explained. "But when I looked at the TV footage, it seemed to me that his manoeuvre was quite normal and there was nothing particularly strange about it."
Good sport, eh?
Or could it be that Schumacher wants to avoid pointing fingers in case he needs the same kind of help from teammate Rubens Barrichello in the next two races?
Nah. Only cynics think like that.
- WHY WAIT? With his victory at Indy, Schumacher leads Hakkinen by eight points and can clinch the championship on Sunday, rendering superfluous the last race in Malaysia - to the disappointment of F-1 fans, not to mention sponsors.
Well, let 'em be disappointed, Schumacher said: "I will be going to Suzuka to win and try to tie up the title before the final race."
Even though two second-place finishes would suffice, Schumacher cautioned: "We have seen in the past what can happen in the final races of the year. We cannot afford to relax and start thinking the championship is won until it is a reality."
Hakkinen, for his part, is not about to abandon his fight for a third successive crown. "I'm as focused as ever and determined to leave Japan with a victory," the Finn said.
Scheckter, too, believes Schumacher won't be stopped. "I reckon I'm losing my crown," he said. "It's been fun having this Ferrari's-last-champion tag all these years, but they've worked hard to win it this year."
"We have seen in the past what can happen in the final races of the year"
Yep, Schummy, we all know what can happen...;)
Now just lean back and be cool.
