Formula One News — July 2000

DARIO FRANCHITTI tested for Jaguar last week at Silverstone but failed to set any startling lap times and we hear that the possibility of the Scotsman getting a ride with the team in F1 next year is looking increasingly remote despite the fact that Johnny Herbert has made it quite clear in recent days that he has no intention of staying with the team and is heading off to CART in the United States.

AS we predicted as long ago as May, Mark Webber will soon be testing for the Benetton Formula 1 team.

AS we exclusively predicted a month ago Jenson Button will shortly be confirmed as a Benetton driver for next year.

PROST GRAND PRIX is about to be sold to a US-based company and it is expected that the purchaser (rumored to be Tony Johnson's Hidden Creak Industries) is paying $67m for the deal.

THERE is much maneuvering going on in the upper echelons of Formula 1 at the moment as car manufacturers discuss a possible takeover - hostile or otherwise - of the sport.

McLaren's David Coulthard heaped praise on German Grand Prix winner Rubens Barrichello - and insisted that he deserved every minute of his success.

RUBENS BARRICHELLO dedicated his first grand prix victory to his mentor Ayrton Senna after driving a remarkable race in the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim.

CHAMPIONSHIP leader Michael Schumacher laid the blame on his early exit from Sunday's German Grand Prix on Benetton driver Giancarlo Fisichella.

GERMAN GRAND PRIX race organisers have revealed that the man who caused the race to be run under the safety car was a Mercedes worker protesting against his sacking.

MCLAREN team-boss Ron Dennis has intensified the rivalry between the Woking-based team and Ferrari by accusing the Italians of attempting to influence FIA stewards.

ITALIAN Giancarlo Fisichella has been fined $5,000 (dollars) by German Grand Prix race stewards after failing to stop at the weighing area after his first run in qualifying.

RALF SCHUMACHER has joined the chorus of criticism of the Hockenheim track, saying he would like the German Grand Prix to switch to a more modern circuit.

THIRTEEN spectators were injured as torrential rain hit Hockenheim on Friday -- circuit officials have announced.

UNDER-PRESSURE Benetton driver Alexander Wurz has reiterated that he will be driving with the team until the end of the season at least.

THE Minardi team is close to being sold, said 70% team owner Gabriele Rumi -- but needs to find an engine supplier to tie up a deal.

EDDIE IRVINE has continued his war of words by ruling out David Coulthard's world title chances - and insisting Mika Hakkinen is still the man to watch.

BRITISH AMERICAN RACING have signed a multi-year partnership agreement with World Online International -- a Dutch network communication company.

Heavy rain following Friday's opening free practice at the Hockenheim circuit caused havoc with the track schedule -- as flooding caused events to be cancelled.

JOHNNY HERBERT has confirmed his retirement from Formula One after announcing he will move into Champ Car racing next year.

EDDIE IRVINE has hit back at Michael Schumacher and told the German to quit his role as the leading voice of the 22-man grid.

DAVID COULTHARD has ended his row with Michael Schumacher by saying he would not dispute the overtaking rules following their clash at Magny Cours three weeks ago.

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER welcomed the Federation Internationale L'Automobile's decision to allow Mika Hakkinen's Austrian Grand Prix victory to stand - because he wants to win the title without outside help.

HEINZ-HARALD FRENTZEN on Wednesday confirmed his future by agreeing a two-year extension to his contract with Jordan.

THE confirmation that Peugeot has sold its Formula 1 operation to an Asian consortium called Asia Motor Technologies brings to an end Peugeot's disastrous involvement in the sport with no wins in seven years of competition.

JACQUES VILLENEUVE'S decision to stay at British American Racing comes as something of a surprise for the Formula 1 community and it is being seen as an indication that the Honda Motor Company must have made a commitment to Villeneuve that British American Racing will not be allowed to get into financial trouble if British American Tobacco scales down its involvement in the sport.