FORMULA ONE: SAP U.S. Grand Prix Notebook

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

September 28, 2001

Montoya respects Indy; Villeneuve has great memories of track

INDIANAPOLIS - Last year's Indianapolis 500 winner, Juan Pablo Montoya, said Sept. 27 that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a hallowed ground.

"This is a holy place for motor racing, and people admire it that way," Montoya said. "And that's why I think Formula One is going to be successful in America, because it's at the Speedway."

***

Opening doors: Jacques Villeneuve says that his win in the 1995 Indianapolis 500 helped earn him a seat on the Williams team for which he won the 1997 Formula One World Championship.

"Great memories here, definitely," Villeneuve said of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "Having won here, it opened the door to Williams for '96. So it's been a very important race, and I will always remember it, of course."

***

Proud parents: Rubens and Silvana Barrichello are the proud new parents of their son, Eduardo, who was born Sept. 23 in Brazil.

***

Newly engaged: Juan Pablo Montoya has become engaged. His fiancé is fellow Colombian Connie Freydel, who has been studying law in Madrid, Spain.

***

Rinland joins Arrows: Orange Arrows-Asiatech has signed Sergio Rinland as its new chief designer. Rinland, who helped design this year's Sauber C20 before parting company with that team, is already at work at Arrows under the direction of Technical Director Mike Coughlan.

Argentina's Rinland began his F1 career in the mid 1980s when he designed the RAM F1 car. Between 1986 and 1992, he worked for Williams, Dallara and Brabham. He then established his design team, Astauto, working with Fondmetal F1 team.

In 1996, Rinland was appointed senior composite engineer at Benetton where he stayed until 1999, when he became chief designer at Sauber.

***

Alesi celebrates 200th Grand Prix start in Indianapolis: Jean Alesi will start his 200th Grand Prix in Sunday's SAP United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis.

"The last 12 years have gone so quickly, but I feel an incredible sense of achievement to have made it to my 200th Grand Prix," he said. "There are so many things that have happened over this time that make it impossible to sum up my Formula One memories in just a few words - a book wouldn't be enough! I think about how many times I have lined up on the grid, how many people I have met, and the amazing times I have experienced, but mostly, I am so thankful that I have remained safe during my career, as I have unfortunately witnessed some very sad accidents on the track.

"Eddie (Jordan) launched me into Formula One by arranging my drive with Tyrrell in 1989, and since then I have driven for all the teams I wanted to drive for. I still have the same passion for Formula One that I had in the beginning, and I believe this is one of the reasons I have survived so long in this sport - you have to give 100 percent, otherwise you may as well give up. Being back with Jordan now, as I approach the end of F1 career in the next few years, is almost a dream come true. "I would like to finish my career by racing for Jordan, as I feel I have come full circle."

***

New sponsor: The Orange Arrows team has signed a sponsorship agreement with the European technology and PC peripherals company Trust.

Text provided by Nealie Hamilton

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.