Irvine out for austrian GP!!!!!!!!!!

[steve nielsen]

Eddie Irvine won't be driving again this weekend, he has gone home with abdominal pains. But there's one advantage for the rest of the field, mad Eddie can't run them off the track now!!

[Mr.S]

Wow! where did you hear that?

I think he is just ****ed off with the car! He had to pretend he was happy at Ferrari, and blow sunshine up Schumacher's arse. Now he has to pretend that his car is getting better and doesn't suck as much as two weaks before.

If so, I wonder who will be filling in for him, do they have time to find a suitable replacement who can handle the R1 and who knows the track.

[steve nielsen]

BBC text and RTL5 text reported that

But they can't replace him for this weekend, he already has driven on friday .

[Gerard]

This is from the Jaguar site:

Eddie Irvine has withdrawn from Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix with severe abdominal pains. Eddie has flown back to England to see a specialist, though it is not known exactly what the cause of the problem is.

After feeling unwell since his arrivaI at the circuit on Thursday and complaining of abdominal pains, he consulted the surgeons at the A1-Ring Medical Centre on Friday and was advised to return to England for a further opinion from Professor Williams, a prominent London surgeon.

Neil Ressler, Jaguar Racing's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said: 'Having taken the advice of the surgeons here in Austria, Eddie has flown back to England to undergo further tests so a fuller diagnosis can be made. It was the opinion of the medical team that, given the discomfort he was in, there was little point in him continuing this weekend. Our prioriy is to ensure that Eddie returns to full health as quickly as possible.'

Jaguar Racing's official test Driver, Luciano Burti, has been drafted in to take Irvine's place or the remainder of the race weekend.

Eddie won the Austrian Grand Prix last year, but had a troubled start to the weekend. 'It was a pretty frustrating day,' he said after free practice. 'I was only able to complete half the programme I had set for the two sessions. I was troubled by a gearbox problem, which cost me any chance of nailing a quick lap in the first hour.'

'We made a few internal tweaks to cure the problem in time for the second session, but I was then plagued by an electrical fault that shut everything down twice and brought a premature end to the session. I'm in no real position to deliver an accurate verdict on the car because of the time I lost.'

It was later in the afternoon that Eddie withdrew from the race. Burti will get his first competitive drive in the R1 at 8am tomorrow, when free practice resumes.

[steve nielsen]

I always thought it was'nt possible to swop drivers in the midle of a race weekend, and I still do!, Its against the rules.

[fatbloke]

Go Burti!!

[Mr.S]

Will Burti even qulify? he only has an hour to drive the track before the qulifying sesion, and knowing the speed and relibility of the Jaguar...

[Mr.S]

This from http://www.visit-4-mula-1.co.uk/ (official FIA rules)

CHANGES OF DRIVER


60) During a season, each team will be permitted one driver change for their first car and will be permitted to have three drivers for their second car who may be changed at any time provided that any driver change is made in accordance with the Code and before the start of qualifying practice

After 16.00 on the day of scrutineering, a driver change may only take place with the consent of the stewards.

In all other circumstances, competitors will be obliged to use the drivers they nominated at the time of entering the Championship except in cases of force majeure which will be considered separately. Any new driver may score points in the Championship.

[Gerard]

Well there you have your answers, this is a case of 'force majeur.'

In all other circumstances, competitors will be obliged to use the drivers they nominated at the time of entering the Championship except in cases of force majeure which will be considered separately. Any new driver may score points in the Championship

[EERO]

So Jaguar's troubles continue. (Sorry, Neil)
Certainly within recent history, this is the first occaission I can recall of a driver change being made once the weekend has begun.

The presure will be tough on Burti to come to grips with the car on that track with only one hour of running before qualifying.
Best of luck to him.
And best of luck and a quick recovery to Eddie.

[Mr.S]

Although I dont like Jaguar, they have maneged to pull off another BAR type "we will take the fight to McLaren and Ferrari" deal, I still wish Irvine and Burti the best of luck.

[Sharky]

I wouldn't worry about Burti qualifying. He's tested with the car and he knows how it works. And besides....with the broken gearbox Irvine didn't have a lot of time to practice either. Let's see how he handles all this pressure that lands upon him all of the sudden.

I hope he does well.

[Crash Test]

From Motorsport.com
"Jaguar driver Eddie Irvine has withdrawn from this weekend's Austriann Grand Prix, with a suspected case of severe appendicitis.

Irvine had been feeling abdominal pains since his arrival on Thursday, and, as they began to get worse, visited the track's medical center. The doctors advised him to return to England in order to consult with a specialist."

-As someone who had their appendix out a couple of weeks ago, im feeling for Eddie. But i think sending him back to England is a bit funny. I had a pain, went to the doctor at uni, then caught the bus off to hospital and they wipped it out. Aren't there any doctors with sharp knives in Austria?

Didn't this happen to Hakkinen a few years ago before Japan?

Get well soon Eddie!!

[Valve Bounce]

Thanks for the news guys. It is not very often that any teams test driver gets a run in a GP. You will remember Salo was not Ferrari's test driver last year. Burti has a very important opportunity to show to the F1 world his capability. I can only hope for a miracle that the Jaguar hold up for him. Good luck, Nicholas!!

[RIKB]

Burti's real problem isn't that he doesn't know the car,He does! He doesn't know the circuit, and he has had no time to get to know it!

Jaguars real descision was do they put Burti in under those circumstances or do they put in a driver who doesn't know the car but does know the circuit, the only candidate being Panis.

If the car was reliable the Panis would have been the way to go, but as it isn't likeley to finish the race anyway, they might as well give the driver they have already paid for a go.

It will be interesting to see how Johnny goes this weekend, now he is clear number one! I believe that Jaguar (& Stewart before it) are only capable of putting one competitive car out there, and this weekend Johnny will get it! Go Johnny Go.