Friday press conference - US Grand Prix - Pt.3.

Team personnel: Ron Dennis (McLaren), Eddie Jordan (Jordan), Tony Purnell (Jaguar), Paul Stoddart (Minardi), David Richards (BAR)

Questions from the floor - continued:

Q: (Matt Bishop - F1 Racing)
Tony, in the light of rumours that HSBC may not be continuing their sponsorship of Jaguar Racing next year, could you comment on stories circulating here which suggest that Sir Jackie Stewart, a non-executive director of Jaguar Racing, may have been hawking another bank, the Royal Bank of Scotland, as a sponsor to other teams?

Eddie Jordan:
Oh, I love that one.

Tony Purnell:
Jackie has acted correctly, in that he informed the board and HSBC that he was going to take up a role with the Royal Bank of Scotland, so there's nothing untoward there. But you're suggesting, here, an act of betrayal which would be inconceivable, I think, for a director of a Formula One team. You've got bear in mind that Jackie's the father of Jaguar Racing. He's worked for Ford for 40 years, he's got huge standing in the sport, and that implies a set of first class ethics. I'm inclined to discount that as rumour-making. For sure, Jackie's always assured us that he's steadfastly behind the team, and I'm sure he is.

Q: (Bruce Martin)
Tony George has advocated his desire to see another United States Grand Prix, possibly on the west coast or something, and he believes it could only benefit this event. How do you feel about that?

Ron Dennis:
I think we would all support it, providing it didn't increase the calendar size. A west coast race would be very beneficial to the commercial interests of all of our teams and probably Formula One as a whole.

David Richards:
I think we have also got to look at how we get better penetration into America per se. Someone was telling a story at lunchtime about how little awareness there was of Formula One despite the fact that we are here this weekend and we were in Montreal last weekend. Will it help us to have an extra race in the west coast? Well, I am sure it will do, but there is still an awful lot of work to do with what we are doing already and, as far as extra events are concerned, I have a slightly different view on this. I would rather do extra events and far less testing. I think extra events actually drive revenue and increase the value to everyone and testing does absolutely none of that.

EJ:
There is also a rumour around about whether there will be a renewal of the contract and the options here at Indianapolis, and it is my desire, certainly, as team principal of Jordan that there is. I think it has been a huge success and you must be a little patient. I remember not very long ago going to Barcelona to a handful of people and going to Canada to a handful of people and they turned out to be probably two of the best-supported events on our calendar. So I am quite sure that things will turn around.

We also have to get our act together. We do realise, in an American context, that we are not close enough to the people. We must make sure that we think carefully about this. We understand we have technology and we have new-fangled cars and stuff, but we also have to reach out and make that extra effort. That is part of the American culture and it is not for them to change, it is for us to change. And, if you are going to have another race in America, will you please have it in Boston so that I can get more Paddies on board, because it is ridiculous going off to the west coast of America - it doesn't suit me at all! Thank you very much! [laughter]

Paul Stoddart:
I think the west coast race would be great, but I echo Ron's thoughts that we need to look very carefully at the calendar. I mean, 18 races is a killer, we don't do a lot of testing, so I look at it from a purely race point of view and I look at people that are getting severely burned out. I fear 20 races, I really do.

TP:
From Ford's point of view, we would be delighted to have another American race - it is an American company and it is the biggest market for Jaguar. I think the only caution is that Americans like to be entertained and, if we don't entertain them, it won't catch on - simple as that.

Q: (Dan Knutson - National Speed Sport News)
Tony, you said that Jaguar has been very disappointed with the results this season. What has been the reaction from your parent company Ford to the season?

TP:
Pretty good really. They never give me a hard time about results. They are very steady as a company, that is my relationship with them, so no complaints, no accolades. They were impressed in Malaysia, I have to say, and we need to pull something out of the bag to give everybody in the team a lift and, for sure, that is what we are trying to do. This would be a nice weekend to do it.

Q: (Joe Saward)
Eddie, was your impassioned plea about keeping the three-week break earlier on because you are under specific pressure to give it away?

EJ:
Joe, I am not sure you are on this planet! I said it was a purely humanitarian wish. We are trying to keep it.

Q:
But is there specific pressure?

EJ:
No, not at all. It does come up every year - why do we need to have the three-week gap? And I think, in particular, before David was on board, I think actually Ron was a very great supporter in this respect. Is that right, Ron?

RD:
Yes, you are quite right.

EJ:
Thank you, Ron.

RD:
It is not under pressure other than, at every time the calendar comes up, the three-week gap comes under pressure.

Q:
But how would you get 20 races if you...

EJ:
You divide 20 into 52 and I think you get something like...

Q:
You are very good with numbers Eddie, aren't you?

EJ:
I have had to be! [laughter]

Q: (Niki Takeda - Formula PA)
This habit of having a three-week break and a testing ban is relatively new. Can you explain why it has become so important in the last few years, because you never used to have that ten years ago.

RD:
Well, I mean, if you go back to when I started motor racing in 1966, I think we had eight grands prix and there was huge amounts of time between the races. Now it is just a question - you know, Eddie uses the expression 'humanitarian' - it is just for everybody that is working in grand prix has some family, and it allows the teams to plan a holiday in the middle of what is an intense racing season. It is as simple as that - it is not complicated.

The winter testing, the bans that are in effect at the end and the middle of the season, are purely to save money and, again, to stop the teams putting pressure on themselves to perform because, inevitably, if there is an opportunity to improve your team, you are going to take it. If that opportunity is taken away from you, then clearly you can focus on other issues, and perhaps one of those issues is giving people time off - which is desperately important.

Q: (Mike King - Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network)
Mr Richards, forgive my ignorance of the technical rules of Formula One, but your third car was obviously very quick today, with Anthony Davidson second only to Rubens Barrichello. Is the third car required to meet the same technical regulations as the other two cars and, if that is the case, how impressed are you with his performance today given it is his first appearance at this track?

DR:
Well, the answer to the first question is yes, they have to comply at all times with the technical regulations as all the other cars. He does, however, as the third driver, have the benefit of additional sets of tyres, which the other drivers don't, and fresh tyres do make a significant difference. But, nonetheless, Anthony has driven superbly all year, and he is a really integral part of the team - not just on the Fridays, but during testing throughout the season. I would say he is well deserving of a drive in Formula One in the near future.