Saturday May 3rd, 2003
Football Crazy Photo Shoot
Barcelona's two Dutch international football stars Frank de Boer and Marc Overmars dropped into the Formula One paddock this weekend as guests of Ford. The pair, visiting the official Ford-powered Jordan team, will no doubt also have dropped down to the bottom end of the pitlane to have a chat with Dutchman Jos Verstappen too.
Jordan Ford Visits Jordan Ford
The Jordan Ford Formula One team revealed on Saturday that they met one of their biggest fans at the pre-Spanish Grand Prix test at Silverstone - a 14-year-old boy called...Jordan Ford. Ford - by bizarre coincidence - is a member of the team's fanclub and was shocked last year when team boss Eddie Jordan signed a deal with Ford to re-name his cars Jordan Fords this year.
Ford's mother Hazel contacted the team soon after the deal and they invited the Yeovil youngster to join the team at their first test of the year in the build up to this weekend's race at Barcelona. The youngster - who wants to become an aerodynamicist in Formula One - met drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and Ralph Firman.
"I was overwhelmed with how everyone from Jordan treated me," he said. "It was the best day of my life and a dream come true. My favourite part was when I met the drivers. I felt like a celebrity because people kept asking me if I really was Jordan Ford."
Williams Sell Out
Williams-BMW appear not to be content with releasing a biography celebrating their 25 years in the sport since their formation in 1977 – and are planning to cash in further with a new range of clothing that they unveiled in Spain this weekend. The book, which features many previously unseen photographs, was released on April 30, and the team presented their new clothes two days later in a special show on the Montjuic hill in Barcelona.
Top model Nadja Auermann was present to show off the garments – which include special Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher lines – as well as accessories such as sunglasses, watches, umbrellas, and even seat covers and luggage. The display just showed how far Formula One has come since Sir Frank set up his team – the thought of a team T-shirt back then was out of the question.
Fine Time
After Antonio Pizzonia's double trouble and Ralph Firman's astonishing high-speed rule flaunting in the Barcelona paddock on Friday it appears the drivers have not learned their lesson. Toyota's Olivier Panis certainly has not, because he was fined $1250 dollars for exceeding the pitlane limit during opening practice on Saturday at a speed of 64.9km/h. The FIA must be rubbing their hands with glee after two Grands Prix without a speeding fine in sight.
Published at 18:17:40 GMT
(03-11-2005): 
