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EXCLUSIVE ARGENTINE GRAND PRIX COVERAGE
An Argentine Preview
by Andrew Frankl,
European Bureau Chief
The Auto Channel
The Buenos Aires track was built with the support
of President Peron and it opened for racing way back in l952.
The legendary Juan Manuel Fangio was victorious there on several
occasions. The last time the track was used in its original form-in
l981-the Brazilian Nelson Piquet took the chequered flag. Major
changes have taken place before the circus returned after an absence
of 14 years in l995. The first race on the emaciated track was
won by Hill in front of Alesi and Schumacher.
Interestingly enough this is exactly how they finished
last Sunday in Brazil. The hero of Australia Jacques Villeneuve
would rather forget last Sunday's race.
"This was only my second ever race in the wet
and so it was a totally new experience and there was a lot to
learn. When Jean caught me I got stuck behind a back-marker and
I didn't want Jean to get by me because he wasn't really quicker.
I just went a little bit too quick in the turn and a little wide
where it was wet and I lost it"
He may have spun out but he was honest enough to
admit that it was his own fault and was not trying to blame anyone
else. A very rare racing driver indeed.
It would have been very easy indeed to get it wrong
in Brazil in the pouring rain. Yes, he did start from pole position
and therefore he did have a clear track ahead of him but when
he came in for slicks the track was still wet in several places.
He simply did not put a foot wrong and had the immense satisfaction
of lapping double-world champion Schumacher into the bargain
Rumours about 4-time world champion Alain Prost are
still doing the rounds. Apparently some people expect him to
race a McLaren-Mercedes sooner rather than later. Right now he
could only do better than David Coulthard who is having a truly
miserable time - qualifying badly and retiring long before the
end of the first two races. Shades of Nigel Mansell in the same
team just one year ago..
The race itself will be 72 laps, which is equivalent
to 306.654 kilometers. Unfortunately the TV deal - unless it
changes between now and Sunday - in the United States is with
ESPN 2 which means that in San Francisco for instance the race
cannot be seen except by those who can receive Canadian TV by
satellite. I find it amazing that at a time when the people behind
Formula One are keen to promote their sport - with a view to having
a round of the Championship in America - do a deal with a TV
channel which cannot be seen by the vast majority of the people
in the country.
Only a foolish man would bet against Damon Hill who
is looking for his fourth consecutive Grand Prix victory. The
Englishman matured beyond recognition during the winter, having
spent some time with shrinks who finally persuaded him that the
Championship was within his capabilities if he engaged brain as
well as the gears. Don't get me wrong , there was nothing wrong
with Hill mentally as such, he simply got carried away on occasions
when he could have won or at least could have come second behind
his great rival Michael Schumacher. The treatment - if one can
call it such - definitely worked. He is happy, smiling, self-confident
and driving like never before.
