37 replies to this topic

[Georg_Kuyumji]

During last Sundays NASCAR Race in Martinsville some very interesting comments were made from one of the German NASCAR commentators about Craig Pollock.

I will have to quote losely, because I didnt find his comments anywhere on the net, and just quote from memory of what I heard he said when he was beeing asked how it looks about Villeneuve returning back to Racing, in NASCAR.

If any German Forum Members are here who also watched the NASCAR Race, feel free to correct me if I got anything wrong or forgot something:

Craig Pollock has tried to get Villeneuve a Cockpit in NASCAR, he also contacted my Team from the past, and what he wanted was a contract for Villeneuve, a 20 Million Dollars contract. He didnt got a agreement and later came back and said Villeneuve would also race for half of that money.

We know that he asked at different Teams for a car, after some time he came back and said Villeneuve would race for free, if we would give him a car. In NASCAR, and Motorsports that is not the way to make deals, you shouldnt try to sell your driver for alot of money, come back and only wanting half of it, to be coming back later again to be ready to Race for free.

Some time later he got one offer from Roush Racing, they would provide him a car and Team around it, but Villeneuve would have to pay for all of it.

Craig Pollock was very clumsy trieng to find a place for Villeneuve in NASCAR.



Please note, that this is losely what I remember the German commentator said during the Race when he was asked about Villeneuve, I have no way to prove if anything of what he said is true, or if I remember completetly correctly what he said, but it was along the lines of what is written above. Thought some of you people would also find that interesting.

The commentators name is Klaus Graf, and considered an expert in NASCAR in Europe, he has also Raced in the NASCAR Cup Series and still has contact with his Team at Races.

In 1993 he was German and Austrian Formel Ford Champion, in 1997 he was third in the Porsche Carrera Cup and best Rookie of all times.
In 2005 he Raced at Rocketsports Racing in the Trans Am Series and was first German to win the Series. He has Raced in NASCAR for BAM-Racing in 2005.

Greetings

[Denier]

I would think that you wouldn't know a good manager's name.

It almost seems like Craig Pollack is a bigger celebrity than the drivers he represents.

[Georg_Kuyumji]

huh? Is your comment related to me?

For all who didnt read the original Thread carefully.

WHAT IS WRITTEN ABOVE IS NOT MY OPINION, I'M JUST REPEATING WHAT A FORMER NASCAR DRIVER AND COMMENTATOR SAID ON TV YESTERDAY.

[FNG]

Originally posted by Georg_Kuyumji
huh? Is your comment related to me?

For all who didnt read the original Thread carefully.

WHAT IS WRITTEN ABOVE IS NOT MY OPINION, I'M JUST REPEATING WHAT A FORMER NASCAR DRIVER AND COMMENTATOR SAID ON TV YESTERDAY.

Actually I think what he meant is that a good manager would be anonymous, not famous.

[Georg_Kuyumji]

Ups I apologise, my limited English knowledge let me think he meant I didnt know what a good Manager is

[metz]

"I would think that you wouldn't know a good manager's name.
It almost seems like Craig Pollack is a bigger celebrity than the drivers he represents."

Does he manage anyone other than JV?

[Juan Kerr]

I always thought the guy was pointless.

[CWeil]

Uh, duh? He's just saying what the wide world has known for years.

[Mauseri]

Originally posted by metz
"I would think that you wouldn't know a good manager's name.
It almost seems like Craig Pollack is a bigger celebrity than the drivers he represents."

Does he manage anyone other than JV?

Does he mismanage anyone other...

[Denier]

Ha sorry for the misunderstanding Georg.

I was saying that if he was a good manager, we wouldn't know his name.

I don't know if he manages anybody else. I don't even watch F1 and I know about this guy...

[Dolph]

Originally posted by Georg_Kuyumji

Finally someone who is active on both the forums I visit

[Paste]

Originally posted by micra_k10

Does he mismanage anyone other...

Sadly, that's so true.

[Mat]

I wonder what JV sees in him to keep him on this long. It doesnt make any sense...

[former champ]

Originally posted by Mat
I wonder what JV sees in him to keep him on this long. It doesnt make any sense...

must be a very strong bond between the two. Or simply stupidity.

Pollock gets blamed massively for the BAR saga which undid JV's F1 career at a rapid rate but, as Ive said before, he never Im sure held a gun to Villeneuve's head forcing him to re-sign during the 2000 season when Jacques had offers from many teams to leave. One of course being Renault.

They are equally to blame for that but obviously keeping Craig on as his manager didn't help at all in later years. I hope it all works out, Im sure many people want to see Villeneuve in NASCAR.

[Mat]

To me it seems strange that JV trusts him so much.

JV is just as much to blame because he has put Pollock in charge of his affairs because he is literally the only person he trusts to do these things. I wonder why the bond is close. JV seems to have a very inner circle of people he can regard has apart of his life. When he finds that person, he keeps them for life.

Thats my impression anyway. Is it the effect of losing his father?

[maddindian]

Pollock used to be JV's sports teacher/coach when JV was at a boarding school in Switzerland. I think he ended up being JV's mentor as well, and from there, became his manager as JV went into racing.

So essentially Pollock went from being a school teacher to co-owning a F1 team all because of JV. It looks to me as if he rode JV's coattails to success. But their relationship is so close that JV can't see through him.

My opinion anyway.

[swaction]

Originally posted by CWeil
Uh, duh? He's just saying what the wide world has known for years.

Everyone has known this since the BAR days...

[Mat]

Originally posted by maddindian
Pollock used to be JV's sports teacher/coach when JV was at a boarding school in Switzerland. I think he ended up being JV's mentor as well, and from there, became his manager as JV went into racing.

So essentially Pollock went from being a school teacher to co-owning a F1 team all because of JV. It looks to me as if he rode JV's coattails to success. But their relationship is so close that JV can't see through him.

Yup, i think we all know Pollock's history. He must have had a big influence on him when he was young. It has certainly stuck.

[Limits]

If Craig has any respect for JVi he should fire himself since JVi seems unable to do it. Pollock maybe helped his career until it peaked 1997, I don't know anything about what he did around then and before, but he has for sure ruined it afterwards. He is a prick and I am sure that any team owner approached by Pollock would think twice to hire any driver he represents just becuase of Craig himself.

[Mat]

Agreed on the 'pollock should have fired himself'.

If Pollock was a half decent friend and mentor to JV, he would have known when to step aside instead of continuring to ride his coat tales.

[schead]

I would have to agree that Pollock should have gone long ago. What he did succesfully do, was make Jacques the second highest F1 career earner after Schumacher, but that came at the expense of results. Jacques was offered McLaren and Renault rides, but instead chose to battle it out at the crappy BAR team.

In hindsight, I am sure Jacques would have sacrificed millions for being in a competitive car.

[xype]

Originally posted by schead
In hindsight, I am sure Jacques would have sacrificed millions for being in a competitive car.

The thing is, if he was in a competitive car, the millions would come all by themselves.

[former champ]

Originally posted by xype

The thing is, if he was in a competitive car, the millions would come all by themselves.

bingo. The money had nothing to do with JV staying at BAR. He himself has said he had the potential to earn even more had he moved to a Renault or McLaren. Staying at BAR was blind loyalty and believing BAR was on the right track with the strides they made in 2000. What he should have realised was them finishing equal 4th in the WCC in 2000 was more down to his peak powers of talent and skill rather than BAR improving dramatically.

Then when they built that 2001 lemon and it go worse as the season went on, he was frustrated and knew he had ****ed up. Downhill from there.

[former champ]

Originally posted by Limits
If Craig has any respect for JVi he should fire himself since JVi seems unable to do it. Pollock maybe helped his career until it peaked 1997

Jacques had to help himself. His career only in terms of results peaked in 1997, he knew Craig was starting a new team but he didn't have to go there and risk it all. I remember reading a comment from Villeneuve where he stated that British American Tobacco wanted to be sure he was joining the team, otherwise the project wasn't going ahead at all.

So Pollock needed him, no matter what. Still, Jacques joining them wasn't a major disaster. Commiting himself for 3 more years mid 2000 was the big, big mistake. Had he left at the end of 2000, he would have sacrificed only 2 years and he was still in fine form. With a top team again, who knows what might have happened.

[Lontano]

Originally posted by former champ


Jacques had to help himself. His career only in terms of results peaked in 1997, he knew Craig was starting a new team but he didn't have to go there and risk it all. I remember reading a comment from Villeneuve where he stated that British American Tobacco wanted to be sure he was joining the team, otherwise the project wasn't going ahead at all.

So Pollock needed him, no matter what. Still, Jacques joining them wasn't a major disaster. Commiting himself for 3 more years mid 2000 was the big, big mistake. Had he left at the end of 2000, he would have sacrificed only 2 years and he was still in fine form. With a top team again, who knows what might have happened.

the mistake was not signing a one year deal on 2000, he probably could find a fine ride for 2001

[former champ]

Originally posted by Lontano
the mistake was not signing a one year deal on 2000, he probably could find a fine ride for 2001

that's true also.

[kayemod]

Originally posted by former champ
He himself has said he had the potential to earn even more had he moved to a Renault or McLaren.

Did Villeneuve have any realistic options at the time other than BAR? I'm pretty sure that Ron Dennis would never have hired him, so I think we can count McLaren out of any JV discussion.

[former champ]

Originally posted by kayemod
Did Villeneuve have any realistic options at the time other than BAR? I'm pretty sure that Ron Dennis would never have hired him, so I think we can count McLaren out of any JV discussion.

McLaren did go after him, he and Ron couldn't agree on anything though it seems. IIRC the first time they courted him seriously was during 1998, they first went after Schumacher and then Villeneuve. Alan Henry mentioned it in Autocourse 1999, saying just what a different year Jacques would have had, and how different it would have been on a whole, had such a move come off.

Then again during 2000 there were talks. Also with Renault, who he apparantly was very close to signing with. Had he been more flexible, he probably could have walked into any team, with the exception of Ferrari. Given his form in 2000, he was highly sought after at that point. Think Williams offered him a chance to return also.

[Buttoneer]

Perhaps JV would be better of swapping Craig Pollock for Simon Cowell?

[primer]

Craig Pollock is actually a very good manager and negotiator too, he has made JV very rich.

As for NASCAR negotiations, that is down to the driver.

"Tell them I won't race for anything less than $20 million, okay."

"What? No one offered a seat? Don't they know that I am a World Champion? Oh well, I'll race for ten."

"Woe is me. No one wants me. Go and tell them I'll race for free."

Etc.

[917k]

Originally posted by Denier
Ha sorry for the misunderstanding Georg.

I was saying that if he was a good manager, we wouldn't know his name.

I don't know if he manages anybody else. I don't even watch F1 and I know about this guy ...

Why not give it a shot? After all, you seem to want us to watch NASCAR, so why not reciprocate?

[Denier]

Originally posted by 917k



Why not give it a shot? After all, you seem to want us to watch NASCAR, so why not reciprocate?

I'm definitely more into it now that I was before I came to this board. I have trouble finding a driver to pull for, not to mention that I'm not particularly interested in the mechanical aspects so much as I am in the racing itself, and I find F1 races to be a bit dull. That said, I watched the beginning of Australia and I will definitely watch some more races this season to reciprocate! You guys have JPM to pull for, I don't really care about anyone in F1.

[kayemod]

Originally posted by former champ
McLaren did go after him, he and Ron couldn't agree on anything though it seems.

That's really what I meant, I can't see that a Villeneuve/Ron Dennis pairing was ever likely to happen without an awful lot of Mercedes pressure. Remember that they eventually forced Ron to take Mansell, and he was about as far from being a Mansell fan as it was possible to get.

[former champ]

Originally posted by kayemod
That's really what I meant, I can't see that a Villeneuve/Ron Dennis pairing was ever likely to happen without an awful lot of Mercedes pressure. Remember that they eventually forced Ron to take Mansell, and he was about as far from being a Mansell fan as it was possible to get.

Oh definetly. I think Ron wanted Jacques purely on his terms but, as much if not more, Mercedes were pretty keen on Villeneuve. I remember Norbert Haug was full of praise for Villeneuve early in 2000, as well as not denying that he was pursuing JV for the following year. Jo Ramirez had good things to say also, he may have had an influence too.

About Mansell's signing, was it Mercedes or Phillip Morris that put the pressure on Ron to sign him?

[Limits]

Originally posted by primer
Craig Pollock is actually a very good manager and negotiator too, he has made JV very rich.

As for NASCAR negotiations, that is down to the driver.

"Tell them I won't race for anything less than $20 million, okay."

"What? No one offered a seat? Don't they know that I am a World Champion? Oh well, I'll race for ten."

"Woe is me. No one wants me. Go and tell them I'll race for free."

Etc.

Source?

[macoran]

Intriquing how two drivers with JV as initials have "iffy" managers.

[the9th]

Originally posted by Limits

Source?

JV's baby?
One way or the other, methinks they pretty much did it together. They got BAT and Honda to back it that time, that's pretty good. I suppose they've failed to bring the big bucks to NASCAR...

[lattitude]

Craig Pollock is a former ski instructor, how can he cut in the world of F1 and motor racing? impossible.

Well,...the only time Craig did a brilliant job is conning the BAR team owners into believing that JV is the best out there and got way overpaid and overrated. Other than that,...he is the saddest case ever.