Jordan: Electrical Fault Or Human Error?

The failure of both Jordans to make the finish of the European Grand Prix has been put down to an electrical problem - although the team has apparently suggested that it may have been induced by the drivers.


Although the official press release issued by the team claims that an electrical malfunction caused the engine in both cars to shut down of its own accord, an insider has pointed the finger at drivers Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Damon Hill as perpetrators in their own retirements. The source believes that, in both cases, a button on the steering wheel - used only at the start of a race - was pressed in error as the drivers rounded turn one, causing the ignition to shut off and the car to coast to a halt.


This revelation will be particularly galling for Frentzen, as he was leading the race at the time of his retirement, and could have closed the championship gap to Mika Hakkinen and Eddie Irvine, both of whom were struggling in changeable conditions. Hill's retirement triggered off the chain reaction which launched Pedro Diniz into a series of rolls from which he, fortunately, emerged unscathed.


The team has also revealed that it is expecting a revised Honda engine for the year's final event, as the Japanese company aims to wow its home crowd with pole position. The unit - codenamed 'SS' for 'Suzuka Special' - is expected to provide a significant horsepower increase over the current V10, lifting Jordan to the level enjoyed by McLaren and Stewart.