Saturday May 12th, 2001
Monkey Business
Following suggestions by Niki Lauda that with the arrival of traction control monkeys could drive in Formula One, it was reported that Williams driver Ralf Schumacher was planning to give former racer Lauda a stuffed monkey. He
denied that, but took a pop at Lauda's former life as head of an airline business. "Flying is relatively easy," he said. "That's why lots of people do it. Any monkey can fly!"
Mind Your Backs
Members of the BAR team will be keeping watch over their shoulder in the next three races for fear of being caught on camera. The team's "Lucky Tribe" club are organising a photo competition for professional and amateur members that
focuses on the personal side of the team and offers prizes to the most creative and technical photos which show the "humanity" in the sport. The team members will have to make sure they are not caught on camera in any compromising positions which could win and be plastered all over the motor home at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Mini Mika
Floating around the paddock today was an unofficial mini Mika Hakkinen. Not Mika's son Hugo, but a young fan dressed in a little race suit complete with all the McLaren logos and a replica of Hakkinen's trademark blue and white
helmet. The pint-sized racer stopped for pictures with his hero and shook the two-time world champion's hand for the cameras, but fell short of getting into Hakkinen's McLaren car.
Panis Fined
Olivier Panis was the first man to exceed the speed limit at the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend right at the start of the second practice session on Friday. The Frenchman was in a rush to get away but was unlucky because his
BAR-Honda was clocked at 62 km/h, just 2 km/h above the limit level. In accordance with the rules he was duly fined a pitiful US$500 and told not to do it again.
Football Fanaticals
The Austrian hills were alive with the sound of... football on Saturday as the travelling Brits on the Formula One circuit dived into the team motorhomes to watch the English FA Cup final. Almost every motorhome in the paddock switched their massive TV screens from circuit television to English football and the Jaguar pad was packed to the hilt.
The paddock and the press room had a lull as members of the media joined team personnel to take it easy
for a while and watch the match, and an enormous roar spread from the BAR motorhome when Liverpool striker Michael Owen scored the winning goal.
(03-11-2005): 
