Newsgroup: it.sport.formula1.moderato
Titolo: [Pit-Radio] FIA Friday press conference

www.autorace.com
 10/3/2000
FIA Friday press conference 
 
 Drivers: Jenson Button (BMW-Williams), Gaston Mazzacane (Minardi) and
Jarno Trulli Jordan). Team principals: Ron Dennis (McLaren), Neil
Ressler (Jaguar Racing) and Jean Todt (Ferrari)
Q. Congratulations, Jean, on Ferrari's performance today. Do you see
this as a good prediction of what will happen this season?
Jean Todt: The first day [of a new season] is always interesting, even
though we still have to wait a little longer before we see how the
championship is running. We already know the strengths of McLaren, of
course, so we must wait for the other teams to provide any surprises,
for example Jaguar, Williams with the BMW engine, and BAR and Jordan
with their Honda engines. Now it is up to us to be strong as well. So
far the potential of our car seems quite good.
Q. Ron, what are your predictions?
Ron Dennis: It is still too early to say. But as Jean points out, the
first day does give us some indication of where we stand relative to the
other teams. We are not at all surprised by what we see in the positions
on today's 'grid.' Inevitably the teams are all running different fuel
levels and different tyres. We are almost exactly where we expected to
be. Our main competition is going to come from one team, which is the
way it has been for the last couple of years. There is no reason why
that should change, although I believe that Williams has perhaps been
making more negative noises about their performance than reality will
show. It is already clear that they are more competitive than they have
been presenting themselves to be, and I see them as consistent top ten
runners.
Q. There were occasions last year when your policy on the status of your
drivers seemed to threaten your chances in the drivers' championship.
Will that change this year?
RD: No. It remains exactly the same. It remains ingrained in our
philosophy and it will stay that way. I believe it is the correct way to
run a Grand Prix team. While alternative systems have benefits, I think
the downsides are greater than the ups.
Q. Is reliability a particular concern for McLaren as we go into this
first race?
RD: We have put a lot of effort into trying to ensure that we have
better reliability in these first races than we had last year. We built
a car, nominated MP4/14J, which allowed us to run the engine and gearbox
of this year's car a couple of months before the new car itself was
ready. That has now got quite a lot of mileage on it, and the new MP4/15
has already done something like 5.500 kilometres of testing. Towards the
end of that testing we started to get very good reliability, but at this
stage of the season you have to expect some problems. It is not possible
to simulate temperatures and the characteristics of the circuits. Albert
Park is quite severe on brakes, for example, and this year we may find
ourselves with a difficult decision to make on the choice of tyres. But
at the end of the day it is the same for everybody. As you can see from
today's results, the times are already a lot closer than they were at
the end of last season. I am sure it is going to be a close race on
Sunday.
Q. Jean, where does the new Ferrari stand on reliability? Have you had
any problems in testing?
JT: Yes, we have had some, which is normal, and it is a major issue.
Last year we ended the year with good reliability, but now we are
starting with a new car and I reckon we must put in a lot of effort to
reach the level of reliability that we will need. 
Q. What happened to Michael in that incident this afternoon when he
crashed into the barriers?
JT: He was on a good lap and he just lost the car. We are now
disassembling the car and I am hoping that we will be able to put it
back together, at least in time for Sunday.
Q. Neil, although you have now been involved in F1 for a long time,
you're a new face to many of us here. Can you tell us what your
responsibilities are within the Jaguar team?
Neil Ressler: I am the Chairman of Jaguar Racing and also Chairman of
Cosworth Racing. Back in America my job title at Ford Motor Company is
Chief Technical Officer, so I have a whole other list of headaches over
there.
Q. What percentage of your working time is spent inside racing?
NR: Well, it is a far larger percentage than my boss knows! I am also
spending an enormous amount of time. These are both tough jobs, a lot
tougher when you are trying to do them than they look to involve.
Q. You have brought the separate elements of the team and its engine
together. How much closer do you want them to be?
NR: There is an opportunity here to marshal the resources of Ford Motor
Co to provide more assistance [in this task] than there has been in the
past. But we are still at the beginning of that trip, not at the end. I
am expecting more behind-the-scenes involvement of Ford's technical
resources, together with greater financial support both for the team and
for Cosworth. If we're good, we'll win. If we're not, we won't.
Q. How long will it take to get it all together?
NR: I am not going to predict outcomes.
Q. Jarno, what are your first impressions of the Jordan team and car?
Jarno Trulli: We have been working really hard through the winter to
develop this car. It seems more competitive than the previous one, but
unfortunately we are not reliable yet, especially today. Even during the
winter I lost a lot of mileage compared with my team mate. Fortunately
the atmosphere inside the team is very good. I feel I can work closely
with everyone and I hope that by the end of the season we will have
found a way to make the car both reliable and quick. I am hoping to get
as many points as possible and to have my best ever season in he
championship.
Q. Your background bears many similarities to Jenson Button's. Did you
ever race each other in karting?
JT: We never raced in the same events, but I used to see him driving
very often because we use to be competing at the same circuit on
weekends.
Q. You had even less motor racing experience before arriving in F1 than
Jenson has had. What advice can you give him?
JT: I cannot give him much advice because I am sure he knows what he has
to do: get as much mileage as he possibly can in an F1 car. Once he
feels comfortable I know he will be quick, because I know how talented
he is. I have known him for a long time and I knew he was talented. But
F1 is tough job because it is not just driving a car, it is also having
to handle difficult situations. For the moment he needs to get those
miles, finish the races and try to perform as well as possible with
causing the sort of accidents that could put him in a difficult
situation. But I think he is going to be OK. He will soon understand
what F1 is all about.
Q. Gaston, how do you feel to have recorded the 12th fastest time today?
Gaston Mazzacane: I am very happy. For sure it is going to be a harder
day tomorrow, but Minardi has given me a good, reliable car to be able
to get the laps and to learn the track without making too make mistakes.
I know I made a few mistakes today, but everything was sorted out in
time for the second half of the session.
Q. What are your hopes for this season?
GM: I want to get as much experience as I can, and to improve in the
second half of the season. Most of all, I want to repay the confidence
of the team.
Q. How easy is it to come from a distant country like Argentina and to
make an impression in F1 racing?
GM: There is a long motorsporting tradition in Argentina, although it is
a long way from the standards of Formula 1. Unfortunately Argentina has
lost its Grand Prix, which means the country has been penalised, and I
too feel somewhat penalised. I hope that my country will have a world
championship race again before too long.
Q. Jenson, how is F1 for you?
Jenson Button: It has been a good week for me, apart from getting used
to the time difference. It's my first time here in Melbourne, so today I
have been learning the circuit and working with the team on setting up
the car. We have made a few changes that have worked and we hope to show
that tomorrow. On my installation lap I was amazed to find just how
tight some of the corners are on this circuit, but otherwise there have
been no surprises.
Q. How do you answer criticisms that you are too young for F1?
JB: It's difficult for me to say, because these people don't know me as
a person or as a driver. I believe that a driver who is ready for F1 is
ready for it no matter what his age, within reason. Yes, this is going
to be a learning year for me. But I will also be looking for some good
results.
 
--
I computers sono come gli Dei del Vecchio Testamento; 
un sacco di regole e nessuna pieta'
- Joseph Campbell -
--
Un Ciao in DO maggiore!
-=) Sbaturzio (=-            Mi trovate anche con lo Yahoo Pager

 the downsides are greater than the ups.
Grande Ron
Sono completamente d'accordo
Magic