 'Schumi' Fever Overshadows Frentzen Pathos Friday July 27th, 2001 By Carmel Crimmins
Frank Kuhn had been waiting all year to see his hero storm the German Formula One Grand Prix and had shelled out 500 marks ($225) for the pleasure. But the German driver's sacking by Jordan team chief Eddie Jordan on Wednesday meant it was money for nothing. "Jordan have ruined the weekend for me. As far as I'm concerned without Frentzen there is no Grand Prix," said the 37-year old builder, proudly lifting up a gigantic flag embossed with Frentzen's picture on one side and a Jordan insignia with a black line running through it on the other. Eddie Jordan said on Friday that Frentzen, who has referred his dismissal to lawyers, had to go for the good of the team after seven successive races without a point. But Kuhn was having none of this. "It's a disgrace, an absolute disgrace what Eddie Jordan has done. The problem wasn't the driver it was the car," said Kuhn, who had travelled from eastern Germany for the Formula One fest. "I didn't come all this way to see Michael Schumacher," he added. He was probably the only one that didn't. For most of the thousands of fans swarming around the high-speed circuit in the blistering heat, Michael Schumacher was the only German driver that counted. Crowd Pleaser Each time the triple World Champion and homegrown hero zoomed past during practice, thousands of red-capped "Super Schumi" fans swung their Ferrari flags around and blew their crimson horns like people possessed. The woes of compatriot Frentzen hardly got a look in. "I feel sorry for Frentzen but...Michael Schumacher is the best driver in the world," roared 12-year old Dennis Weigand, distracted by the sight of his hero racing past. Schumacher is seeking to match the record of French four times World Champion Alain Prost and secure a 51st career victory at the high-speed Hockenheim circuit. His younger brother Ralf, with two wins under his belt for the resurgent Williams team this season, is well placed to dash his hopes. As far as the German fans are concerned, however, Michael is the favourite son. "It's not that I don't like Ralf, it's just that Michael's more my type," grinned Rita Schmidt, resplendent in a skin-tight red dress with a chequered flag draped around the waist. "He'll definitely win on Sunday," said the 19-year old student. Outside the circuit, a man trying to sell unofficial Jordan shirts with pictures of Frentzen across them admitted Michael Schumacher was the best profit option. "To be honest we never really sold many of these even when Frentzen was driving," he said.
Published at 15:27:44 GMT
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Amid the legions of boisterous Michael Schumacher fans swigging cans of beer and gobbling back sausages at Germany's Hockenheim race track, one Heinz-Harald Frentzen devotee struck a lonely figure.
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