CRICKETS AND KETTLE DRUMS

The bpisports.com column WHERE THE GLASS IS ALWAYS HALF-EMPTY

#3 - SCHUMOCKERED

BY TREVOR W. RILEY

MAY 18, 2010

With 91 race victories and 7 world championships to his credit, Michael Schumacher is arguably the best Formula One driver of all time. He's also easily their most controversial driver of all time.

Schumacher twice attempted to wreck his closest competitor in the standings in the final race to seal his F1 world championship. It worked in Australia in 1994, wrecking Damon Hill to claim his first title by 1 point; it didn't work in Spain in 1997 when Schumacher unsuccessfully attempted to end Jacques Villeneuve's day. By that time, the FIA (Formula One's governing body) was wise to Schumacher's mischief and disqualified him entirely from the 1997 standings board, virtually erasing the 78 points he had earned throughout the season. Villeneuve finished the race in 3rd place, capturing his first and only F1 title.

In 2006, at the most prestigious F1 race, the Grand Prix of Monaco, Michael Schumacher again sparked controversy when he staged a crash in the final seconds of qualifying, so he could retain his pole position. The FIA was of course right on top of Schumacher's antics, and penalized him by starting him at the back of the race field in 22nd place. Impressively enough, he would finish 5th.

Enter May 16, 2010. The event: the Grand Prix of Monaco. The special guest FIA race steward: 1996 Formula One champion, Damon Hill. The significance: Michael Schumacher's first F1 race at Monaco since 2006, the year he retired.

Qualifying ran without a hitch, Schumacher legally started the race in 7th position, but perhaps ironically enough, the man that won the pole position as a result of Schumacher's "crash" in 2006, Fernando Alonso, started at the back of the field in 24th after a legitimate wreck in practice. Alonso would go on to finish 7th...no wait...6th...huh?

Of course there was controversy again at Monaco involving Schumacher and Alonso. A late race wreck had caused the safety car (pace car if you will) to come out, leading the drivers to race's end. It was announced by the FIA race stewards on the final lap that the safety car would be entering the pits before the finish line, but the race was to still end under caution. Fernando Alonso cruised along in 6th position, Michael Schumacher in 7th. As they approached the final turn, the yellow caution lights flashed to green, Schumacher overtook Alonso before the finish line...Schumacher finishes 6th, Alonso finishes 7th...or not.

The FIA race stewards, with special guest Damon Hill in the box mind you, added 20 seconds to Schumacher's race time, dropping him to 12th place, out of the points. Fernando Alonso assumed 6th position while drivers 8-12 also increased a position due to Schumacher's penalty, thus all is fair and good with F1, right? Ummm, no.

At the very least, Michael Schumacher should have been returned to his 7th position, which is where he would have finished had he not tried to pass Alonso in that final turn. The safety car pulled into the pits, the lights turned green, and Schumacher's Mercedes team told him to race to the finish line. The rules are the rules, drivers aren't to overtake in that last tenth of a lap or so under caution, but since when do green lights or flags in an auto race signal a driver to parade across the finish line, single file in their current position? If you're the FIA and you want the race to end under caution, why not just have the safety car lead all the cars across the finish line to avoid any confusion?

It was stated today that Mercedes won't appeal Schumacher's 12th place finish, and that's even more disconcerting. The FIA should accept sole blame for this incident for its cloudy rulebook and shoddy track operation. Instead the onus is placed on Formula One's #1 bad guy for once again, blatantly "breaking the rules". What a Schame.

Well that's a wrap for column 2, episode 3 of CNKD. If you have any comments, questions, suggestions, or other feedback, feel free to send them along via email to cnkd2010@aol.com. There's 3 down and 999,997 to go. Peace.