88 replies to this topic

[Risil]

Vergne's had an alright racing career, and is probably only halfway through it. He'll be at Le Mans with Peugeot next year.

 

Not many people get three full and stable years in F1.

[DeKnyff]

He was the token Frenchman for the majority of his career.

 

To start with, he is not even French, even if he races under a French license.

[JimmyClark]

To start with, he is not even French, even if he races under a French license.

 

His mother is French, no? So surely he'd have had dual nationality from birth? 

 

I could be wrong, but I guess we will find out in the book... 

[Red5ive]

Persumably this book  has multiple chapters devoted to "The Crash" where he gets to tell us, in great detail again, about all the numerous and very detailed random thoughts he had during the crash and while he was also trying to pull himself from the burning wreckage.

[jjcale]

Glad he is ok but the title just confirms the opinion i always had of him.

 

Your publisher chooses the title ...

[BRG]

It is a bit sad that so many people chose to throw brickbats at this.

 

So the title is a bit sensationalist.  So what, it is hardly a unique occurrence.  Perhaps someone should actually read the book and see if it is any good before it is ritually immolated like the author.

[jjcale]

I hope Kimi releases an autobiography titled "Driving a car" to complement this.

 

C'mon KR's would obviously be called:  Bwoah! 

[jjcale]

Sounds lit, might get it on kindle.

 

... I see what you did there.

[jonpollak]

His oval debut already happened during the 2021 season.

Yeah but they didn't know anything about it,  so it never happened.

Imagine them seeing him as his cold tires were sending him inches from the barriers  !!!

 

It proved to be that he is a good learner and can do the 500 with all that practice they get..NO Problem.

 

Jp

[PayasYouRace]

Persumably this book  has multiple chapters devoted to "The Crash" where he gets to tell us, in great detail again, about all the numerous and very detailed random thoughts he had during the crash and while he was also trying to pull himself from the burning wreckage.

 

Trying and succeeding, I might add.

 

I don't doubt it was a very scary experience, but he did get out all by himself with relatively minor injuries.

[eibyyz]

It is a bit sad that so many people chose to throw brickbats at this.

 

So the title is a bit sensationalist.  So what, it is hardly a unique occurrence.  Perhaps someone should actually read the book and see if it is any good before it is ritually immolated like the author.

 

True, and I'll not disparage someone who promotes himself.  If not oneself, then who?

[Ross Stonefeld]

Your publisher chooses the title ...

 

He self brands himself as "The Phoenix" and makes other flames references. I'm sure he was very pro the title. 

[masa90]

I hope Kimi releases an autobiography titled "Driving a car" to complement this.

Even better should be: "Driving"

[B Squared]

I feel I presented an important distinction in a neutral way. I even agreed with you. If you took it personally, that's your problem. I have no beef with you and I'm surprised you think I do. I'm sure we've disagreed over the years, but I can't remember a concrete instance.

Sorry about that Dolph, I mistook you for a different D-lettered poster that accuses me of being the primary political protagonist in the IndyCar threads. Tell that one to ol' Jp! 

 

On the other subject, I think you'll find that drivers can experience serious injuries and death on tracks similar in size (and smaller) to Gateway, where Grojean made his oval debut. My first CART oval race as an official for the IndyCar Series was the second Milwaukee (1-mile oval)  race of the 1982 season. The 1982 Indianapolis 500 "Rookie of the Year", Jim Hickman, didn't survive the weekend.

[Squeed]

Glad he is ok but the title just confirms the opinion i always had of him.

 

He's always seemed a little off, kind of like Ralph Wiggum from the Simpsons.  

[noikeee]

Yeah this kind of selling/milking your own tragedy really rubs me the wrong way. I like Romain, but come on man...

[Squeed]

C'mon KR's would obviously be called:  Bwoah! 

 

or You WILL Have The Drink

[smitten]

Surely 'I knew what I was doing'

[JacnGille]

I hope Kimi releases an autobiography titled "Driving a car" to complement this.

“Leave me alone, I know what I’m doing.” works for me.    

[Arska]

One of F1's recent tragedies (non-serious tragedies obviously) is that Vergne never got a chance at a top team. Arguably should have been him instead of Ricciardo that made the step up to RedBull.

 

 

When Vergne got dropped, why didn't other F1 teams rush in to sign him up? Right away or one season later?

[Myrvold]

“Leave me alone, I know what I’m doing.” works for me.    

 

"Bwoah - Rich from a hobby".

[Singularity]

I think most people that went through what Grosjean did in that accident would feel it is something to talk about. Even if he tells the story a thousand times, there will still be details left out. The visual memories are just sequences of still images but the sounds are detailed. Sensory overload. Neurons firing faster and the brain cannot process it. But the automatic systems can. The memories are patched together slowly.

There are worse people than Romain Grosjean and I'm surprised that so many feel the need to dismiss him.    

[dannyricsshoe]

I think most people that went through what Grosjean did in that accident would feel it is something to talk about. Even if he tells the story a thousand times, there will still be details left out. The visual memories are just sequences of still images but the sounds are detailed. Sensory overload. Neurons firing faster and the brain cannot process it. But the automatic systems can. The memories are patched together slowly.

There are worse people than Romain Grosjean and I'm surprised that so many feel the need to dismiss him.

Indeed, in an era where you can be famous by being an 'influencer' and C list celebrities are releasing autobiographies after their appearance on Love Island this is at least a driver who's had a long career in the sport with more than a few tails to tell pre and post accident.

Edited by dannyricsshoe, 24 November 2021 - 05:14.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Cant wait for the chapter on his move into NFTs.

[Sterzo]

There are worse people than Romain Grosjean and I'm surprised that so many feel the need to dismiss him.    

It's always dodgy to talk about the personality of a public figure, but he came across as a really good bloke, personable and humorous. Hugely impressive in F3. In his F1 driving he was an outsize "character", sometimes as quick as anybody, other times making terrible gaffes. He was a great addition to the racing scene. Different people with different strengths and different weaknesses - that's what makes sport so exciting.

 

Having said all that, the book title is one of his gaffes...

[Collombin]

Not as bad as Andy Granatelli's They Call Me Mr 500.

No they don't.

[ensign14]

Although I have seen his whistle besperpled with STP ovals declared the Second Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

[FirstnameLastname]

‘Always the friedman, never the bride’

[Alfisti]

So was listening to a podcast and they said grosjean is pushing this whole "phoenix" moniker. So I google it and be damnded, he dead set is going around promoting himself as the phoenix.

Absolute gold.

[danmills]

"Bwoah - Rich from a hobby".

 

Kimi: The Autobwoagraphy

 

Also available as an E-bwoak.

 

As for Big Jean I feel he's cashed his chips too early. He's riding on an Indy wave that could get better next year where a real phoenix story might be worthy. Maybe hes banking on the branding early.

 

The crash and injuries were pretty bad, but we never heard Burti sell his soul for his mega crash at Spa or Zonta on being passed by Mika and Michael that one time at bandcamp... 

Edited by danmills, 02 December 2021 - 23:34.

[MKSixer]

So was listening to a podcast and they said grosjean is pushing this whole "phoenix" moniker. So I google it and be damnded, he dead set is going around promoting himself as the phoenix.

Absolute gold.

Oh boy.  I just checked and it is true.  

 

It's a little cringe-worthy but I give him room on it since he was on fire for a pretty long time.  As far as a racer he was blistering in the lesser formulae and his time at Lotus in a proper car was very good.  Super quick on his day but this was overshadowed by brain-fade incidents leading to spectacular crashes.  Sadly, the fire and the brain-fade will be remembered the most...not his moments of brilliance.

[Ross Stonefeld]

He's getting more out of the crash than the career so I'm not sure he minds. And now he's doing NFTs. 

[messy]

Kimi: The Autobwoagraphy

 

Also available as an E-bwoak.

 

As for Big Jean I feel he's cashed his chips too early. He's riding on an Indy wave that could get better next year where a real phoenix story might be worthy. Maybe hes banking on the branding early.

 

The crash and injuries were pretty bad, but we never heard Burti sell his soul for his mega crash at Spa or Zonta on being passed by Mika and Michael that one time at bandcamp... 

 

Always wondered what happened to Burti and Da Matta. Both survived horrific accidents, both reportedly recovered, but seemed to vanish. I know they've both done little bits and pieces of racing since, but the accidents seemed to essentially end their careers, at a high level anyway.

 

Edit: just seen Burti went on to have a long and fairly successful career in Stock Car Brasil. My bad that I didn't know that.

Edited by messy, 03 December 2021 - 12:40.

[BerniesDad]

... since he was on fire for a pretty long time.  As far as a racer he was blistering in the lesser formulae ...

 

An unfortunate turn of phrase 

[Bleu]

Always wondered what happened to Burti and Da Matta. Both survived horrific accidents, both reportedly recovered, but seemed to vanish. I know they've both done little bits and pieces of racing since, but the accidents seemed to essentially end their careers, at a high level anyway.

 

Edit: just seen Burti went on to have a long and fairly successful career in Stock Car Brasil. My bad that I didn't know that.

 

I think da Matta really had a fear to drive open-cockpit cars after his accident.

[MKSixer]

An unfortunate turn of phrase 

Completely an accident...

[thiscocks]

Is this a Grosjean who raced throughout the 60s and 70s or am I missing something?

[Singularity]

Is this a Grosjean who raced throughout the 60s and 70s or am I missing something?

Is there any time of day when you are not an arse?

[Ross Stonefeld]

When I'm on shift.