Did the “Old Dog” Learn a New Trick?

27th May 2006

Did the “Old Dog” Learn a New Trick?

posted in Formula One |

“Old Dog,” Michael Schumacher.

“New Dog,” Fernando Alonzo.

With a minute left in qualifying Michael Schumacher was sitting on fast time as he made his last lap. In trail was Alonzo, both on the track an on the time sheets. As time wound down Alonzo clicked off two blazing times in sectors 1 & 2 with a very real possibility of snatching pole position.

As Schumacher entered Rascasse for the final time the Ferrari inexplicably slowed and stopped on the tarmac just outside the racing line. During the press conference Schumacher claimed he had not wanted to reverse out of the spot because of the following traffic and when he tried to go forward the engine had stopped running.

End result is Alonzo had his last chance for the pole disappear and will have to line-up from second. At least as this is written. The stewards are investigating the incident to determine if the “Old Dog” learned a new trick or whether the Ferrari getting loose and stalling was legit.

UPDATE: It was nice while it lasted wasn’t it Schumie? Sitting on the pole I mean, he sits on the back row now alongside teamate Massa.

F1, Formula One, FIA, Monaco, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle

This entry was posted on Saturday, May 27th, 2006 at 10:24 am and is filed under Formula One. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

1 On May 28th, 2006, Sherif said:#

well, i dont think Michael has done it on purpose, it is just monaco if any accident happens it is red flags no where to go.
anyway it is still gonna be close tomorrow and whether they michael and fernando start first or second i dont think it will affect there standing at the end, it is all about strategy and tyres

posted on May 28th, 2006 at 1:13 am

2 On May 28th, 2006, Marc said:#

I hate to break it to you Sharif, but Schumie will start 22nd not second. Read the update.

The stewards ruled his prank was intentional and placed him shotgun on the field. He’ll be damn lucky to leave the Principality with a single point.

BTW, congrats, you’re the first commentor I have ever noted from Kuwait. I’ve spent many hours anchored in the harbour there and a few walking thru the markets in town.

posted on May 28th, 2006 at 10:53 am

3 On May 28th, 2006, peter said:#

If he had to pull such a stunt I would have thought that a 7 times World Champion could have been a little more creative.A blind man couls see how “staged” that was.

posted on May 28th, 2006 at 11:24 am

4 On May 28th, 2006, Marc said:#

I’ll take your word for it Peter. I missed the qualy. But given this explaination by the Stewards I don’t know what to believe.

posted on May 28th, 2006 at 11:57 am

5 On May 29th, 2006, Luke said:#

Hey, can’t blame a guy for trying, right? If it was actually legitimate though, it’s too bad. Trying to look after everyone else’s safety and getting popped to the back. But, it did look a little on the obvious side.

posted on May 29th, 2006 at 12:47 am

6 On May 29th, 2006, George said:#

Does anyone remember Qualifying at Imola last year? Michael had pole in his pocket and screwed the pooch on his last lap and started fifth. He is capable of making mistakes, at Monaco it’s just more critical not to make the big ones.

I can’t throw him under the bus on this one, at the least I prefer not to believe he could stoop to such tactics.

posted on May 29th, 2006 at 9:59 am

7 On May 30th, 2006, Marc said:#

Not seeing the Qualy I haven’t tossed him under a bus either. But I do find it very hard to believe the Stewards, who look at nothing more than computer data, can make a legit determination.

They weren’t inside Michael’s mind as he approached Rascasse. Who’s to say he didn’t miss his breaking point by as little as a meter and that caused the brake lock-up.

It’s interesting Jean Todt is by passing them all and has asked the racing public to make their own judgements.

“At the end of the day, if you want to get deeper into what is Michael, who is Michael, what he does in Formula 1, for Formula 1, outside Formula 1, it

posted on May 30th, 2006 at 7:42 am

8 On June 1st, 2006, George said:#

This one is far from over. Now Luca Montezemolo has pitched his two cents into the fray in defense of newly soiled driver:

His statements have angered Ferrari President Montzemolo, who told the Gazzetta Dello Sport newspaper that “regardless of the type of justice, either sporting or otherwise, I don’t like a guilty verdict that is based on presumptions.”

He also accused the stewards of tampering with this year’s race for the Championship. “I especially do not like the fact that with a verdict such as this one, it can heavily influence the outcome of the World Championship,” he fumed.

Hey Luca, don’t blame the Stewards for a decision you don’t agree with, blame your driver for putting you, the team and himself in the position to have to now make excuses and blame others for Scumi’s inadequacy’s.

posted on June 1st, 2006 at 12:59 pm

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