Stoner: Schumacher just having fun

MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner does not believe that Michael Schumacher was doing anything more than "having fun" during his recent escapades on two wheels.

The former seven-time Formula 1 champion recently tested for Ducati and took part in two bike races in Spain and Italy.

“Michael’s not testing anything. He’s just riding a bike, he’s having fun," the Australian is quoted as saying by Speed TV.
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“No matter how much experience he has in F1 he would need to learn to ride a bike a little faster before he started giving advice on electronic systems and suspension.

“But from what I hear his improvement as a rider is quite exceptional. He’s done very well considering he’s doesn’t have a lot experience on a bike.”

Former MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi previously tested for the Ferrari Formula 1 team two years ago, though nothing came of the speculation linking the Italian with a full race drive.

And while Stoner admits that he would love a similar opportunity, some practice on four wheels would be needed first.

“When I get a bit more experience in cars I would like to have a go in an F1 car but I’m not going to jump in one when I haven’t really driven a car around a race track,” he added.

“When I retire I’d like to have a go in touring cars and maybe do something closer to home in Australia.”
source: sentanta sports

It’s a two horse race: Schumi

It’s a two horse race: Schumi
AFP Published:Feb 27, 2008


BERLIN — Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher insists this season’s Formula One campaign will once again be dominated by either his old team Ferrari or fierce rivals McClaren.

Schumacher, 39, was test driving for his former stable Ferrari in Barcelona this week, ahead of the new season which starts in Australia on March 16, and was beaten by McClaren’s Lewis Hamilton.

“There are two teams, which will fight for the world championship. Us and the silver arrows (McClaren),” said the German.

Britain’s 2007 Formula One title runner-up Lewis Hamilton was fastest in testing on Monday at the Catalunya circuit as the 22-year-old stormed round in the fastest time of 1 minute 22.276 seconds in his McLaren.

Reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen was second fastest (1:22.319) in a Ferrari and the retired Schumacher was third fastest (1:22.428).

“We know now, where we stand now,” said Schumacher.

“And we know how the silver arrows are doing as well."

Two-time Cup champ Johnson to race former F1 ace Schumacher

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/columns/story?seriesId=2&columnist=smith_marty&id=3154388

LONDON -- Many Formula 1 racing fans scoff at the very thought of NASCAR, consider it no more racing than a Monster Truck rally, and perceive it as a dog 'n' pony show contrived from corporate marketing that belongs on the main stage at the county fair. Conversely, many NASCAR fans fly the single-digit salute at F1, pay it little -- if any -- mind, figure it's a glorified homecoming parade at 200 mph staged in some faraway land they can't even pronounce.

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AP Photo/Terry Renna

Jimmie Johnson calls his head-to-head battle with Michael Schumacher a "great opportunity to race against the best in the world."

Love lost? Not so much. It's a lack-of-respect thing.Well, folks, listen up. Regardless of your respective allegiance, come Sunday evening you'll have unmistakable bragging rights. Why? Because the very best in NASCAR is set to strap in and square off against the very best in F1 -- in identically prepared cars -- as part of the 20th running of the Race of Champions Nation's Cup.Race organizers told ESPN.com on Thursday that Jimmie Johnson and Michael Schumacher will race head-to-head in Sunday's event.Back-to-back Cup champ vs. seven-time F1 title-winner. No excuses."It's one hell of a great opportunity to race against the best in the world, and as a driver that's what you're always looking for -- it's what you want," Johnson said Thursday while dining on sushi at Nobu London. "It's a different type of race. We're only going about 30 mph [average], so we'll have to be really technically sound. Hitting your marks will be key."Thirty miles per hour. That may seem mundane -- your granny drives that speed on the highway, after all -- but it's not. Far from it. Having covered this event last year in Paris, I will testify to its intensity and precision. These boys are here for three reasons: (1) It's fun as hell; (2) To beat the best in the world; (3) To win for their country. And they mean it. Go through the motions? Get embarrassed. "Everyone recognizes [Schumacher] as a champion, and after winning my second straight championship in NASCAR, I hope I'm perceived that way," Johnson said. "Beating him and helping Team USA win the Nations Cup would be the perfect ending to the best year of my career."If Johnson prevails over Schumacher, it will boost the perception of stock car racing overseas. Schumacher retired last year, but don't think for a minute he's lost anything behind the wheel. And rest assured, he wants to win this badly, too. Some say NASCAR and F1 don't pay mind to one another because they have completely separate goals. Whatever. Everybody wants to be king. Think about it. For a random guy here in London to pick up the paper Monday morning and see that a NASCAR guy beat one of the most celebrated drivers of all time would have to positively affect NASCAR. And though neither side will admit it, there is an unspoken rivalry between NASCAR and F1. Juan Pablo Montoya told me earlier this year that I was reaching for something that's not there. He'd know, so he's probably right. But it's the biggest thing in the States vs. the biggest thing in Europe. How could there not be a rivalry? All said, this faceoff is a race fan's dream scenario. Johnson and U.S. teammate Travis Pastrana will run head-to-head against Team Germany, for whom Schumacher is paired with Sebastian Vettel of F1's Scuderia Toro Rosso team.Johnson and Schumacher will be driving four-wheel-drive Fiat Grande Punto S 2000s in a two-lap sprint before handing the wheel over to their respective teammates.The ROC concept is akin to that employed by the former IROC in America -- pitting champion drivers from various forms of motorsport against one another in identical cars to determine who's best. But whereas IROC was run on ovals, the Race of Champions is staged on an asphalt track laid inside a stadium. After several years at the Stade de France in Paris, the event moves this year to London's hallowed Wembley Stadium. And ROC is broken down into two competitions -- a team competition in which eight two-man teams will battle for the Nation's Cup, and an individual competition in which every driver on hand races to be crowned best of the best.Nation's Cup comes first. USA vs. Germany. Johnson vs. Schumacher. But if you ask me, there's a lot more on the line than just Johnson vs. Schumacher. Marty Smith is a contributor to ESPN's NASCAR coverage. He can be reached at ESPNsider@aol.com.

Schumi to Return?

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41362 Former champ tips Schu to race again Thursday, 29, November, 2007, 13:53

Former world champion Alan Jones believes Michael Schumacher’s return to the cockpit of a Formula 1 Ferrari in testing may whet his appetite for a full-time racing comeback. The 38-year-old German retired from F1 competition at the end of 2006 but showed he had lost none of his peerless skills when he took part in the post-season Barcelona test earlier this month and set the fastest time on both days he ran. Schumacher is set to test the Ferrari again at Jerez next week, but has ruled out a race return, insisting his decision to retire is “irrevocable”. But Jones, who retired from F1 in 1981 and subsequently reversed his decision, reckons Schumacher may find the temptation to race again too difficult to resist. “After nearly a year out of the saddle, I can image him thinking, ‘Maybe I’d like to have another go,’” Jones told this week’s Autosport magazine. “It must be just like coming back from an extended Christmas break. “He used to take a couple of months off at the end of each season, so another few months won't make a big difference. Two or three years might have done. “It’s a win-win situation: Ferrari gains from his expertise and he enjoys it. “And you can never rule out a comeback – he might be thinking, ‘I’m really enjoying this!’ “Money won't be his motivation; it will be to prove a point. “Niki Lauda was out for several seasons and came back and won the title. Michael could do the same.” Jones doesn’t think Schumacher’s age or the fact that he has been out of F1 for a year will prevent him being fully competitive. “You don’t stop being a good racing driver in just 10 months,” he said. “Michael didn’t go to bed one night and forget to drive a Formula 1 car – the only thing he might have lost is motivation, not ability.” Schumacher’s former rival Mika Hakkinen says the seven-time champion will have been buoyed by his undiminished pace. “Is he missing racing? The answer is probably yes,” said Hakkinen. “Doing competitive lap times probably satisfies his feeling and he’s happy he is still competitive.”