Ferrari has the title back in Maranello after 21 years.

October 8, 2000 12:36 AM

Ferrari has the title back in Maranello after 21 years.
Michael Schumacher wins Suzuka and his third driver's championship. (More Here)
posted by tamim (10 comments total)

Both Michael Schumacher and Ross Brawn deserve credit for this acheivement!
posted by riffola at 1:27 AM on October 8, 2000

Sigh. I started browsing the net to forget the race. If only Hakkinen had got his act together earlier in the season. And why are McLaren keeping Coluthard next year?! Ah well, can't win 'em all... (Grudging) congrats, Ferrari.

posted by andrew cooke at 1:55 AM on October 8, 2000

Yes, I read this before the repeat showing. Doh. Guess I'll have to do something else now.
posted by viama at 4:59 AM on October 8, 2000

It obviously takes skill to handle those cars at that speed with such precision, but I dunno. I can't get excited watching a bunch of guys drive in circles.
posted by tomorama at 11:45 AM on October 8, 2000

Michaels start was dangerous stuff. Typical Michael really.

I congratulate him on a well deserved title in 2000, but given his past actions in 1994 and 1997, he will never be a truly great driver (Prost, Clark, Stewart, Senna) in my eyes.
posted by tomcosgrave at 12:19 PM on October 8, 2000

NASCAR drivers go in circles (ok, ovals) which is one of the reasons I find it less interesting. F1 drivers drive on twisty tracks and road courses. Personally I think it's a better test of driving skill.
posted by lbergstr at 2:19 PM on October 8, 2000

lbergstr:
CART has a nice mix of small ovals, large ovals, street courses, road courses and even a runway too. That might be a better test of driving skills.

A few years ago for an article, I defined "great driver" as someone who has won (or almost won) in any car he has driven, no matter how average the package was. Stewart and Prost makes the cut by a mile. Damon Hill comes close. Schumi has great instincts for driving. I don't list him as "great." I also do not list Mika Hakkinen as "great," destpite his two championships.

None the less, congratulations to him and Ferrari.
posted by tamim at 3:38 PM on October 8, 2000

Schuey's supposed to be very good at go-karts (Ralf is better though, atleast according to Ralf) and he was good in Formula 3 too, that's why Eddie Jordan hired him in the first place back in '92. Most F1 veterans do list Michael in their Top 5 drivers of all time list. Some prefer him over Fangio. He is genuinely good at what he does.
posted by riffola at 5:02 PM on October 8, 2000

It's great to see Ferrari's efforts finally pay off. With Schumacher at the wheel, it was only a matter of time.
posted by Zool at 5:52 PM on October 8, 2000

Eddie hired him in 1991, for one race (regular driver Bertrand Gachot was in jail!), and thanks to a really lame contract, Benetton poached him. And the only reason he was hired was because he had money to bring to the then struggling Jordan team. The fact that he was talented was a co-incidence.
posted by tomcosgrave at 1:34 AM on October 9, 2000