Villneuve OUT of Suzuka/Sato in (Merged)

[RickP:Clio51]

Confirmed, no Jacques this weekend. For all the kiddies that worship the Schu I'm sure this won't be a loss, for some of us it's pretty terrible news. Jacques with the right motivation is a supreme racing driver, undoubtedly one of the most talented on the grid. I only hope Ron ditches Coulthard for Montoya and Jacques can rejoin Williams where I think he would easily win the 2004 Championship. Rick P : Clio #29

(ESP)-VILLENEUVE PULLS OUT OF SEASON FINALE Page 1/1
VILLENEUVE PULLS OUT OF SEASON FINALE
From Ian Gordon, PA Sport Motor Racing Correspondent, Suzuka
SUZUKA, October 9 (Formula One) - Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve has dramatically pulled out of Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.
The 32-year-old Canadian has asked to be released from his contractual obligations just days after being axed by his BAR-Honda team.
Villeneuve's decision means he could have raced in Formula One for the last time.
BAR boss David Richards told the team in Suzuka on Thursday as they began preparations for the final race of the season.
BAR now look set to replace Villeneuve with Japan's Takuma Sato, who was confirmed on Tuesday as Jenson Button's partner for next season.
end

[Don Rennis]

OK guys lets (collectively will) hope Sato gets a nasty cold and Davidson gets to drive!

[Sato san]

Takuma will race in Japan Just recieved this from Takuma's web site. !


It has just been announced in Suzuka that Taku will race in this weekend's
Japanese Grand Prix.

Jacques Villeneuve has decided that he will not take part in the race and
the team have agreed to release him with immediate effect.

Taku will therefore fill the vacant seat for the weekend.

This is a completely unexpected situation and entirely due to Villeneuve's
decision.

[BootsOntheSide]

It's a shame that Jacques could be gone forever now. A sabbatical might be the right move, a lot of seats will open up in 2005, and perhaps the top teams will see that they, and F1 in general, need him.

Once again thoguh, the ten-tenths rumour mill has got it all right. Well done guys.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally posted by Sato san
[B]This is a completely unexpected situation and entirely due to Villeneuve's decision.

If it looks like a fish and it smells like a fish. It porobably is a fish.

As to whether its a good thing? We have to wait and see.

[Peter Mallett]

Is this a merge I feel coming on?

[Cobra]

Wonder if BAR will feel that they have lost out by losing Jacques for the last race of the season, or whether they will feel that they have gained by having Sato.
If they feel that they have lost and other teams feel that way too it will not bode well for Jacques getting his foot in any other doors in F1.

[Super Tourer]

I've merged these two threads to make it easy to follow the comments.

Sato in puts Honda more in the spotlight this weekend, no doubt they hope he can repeat his last Suzuka GP performance!

[RaceTime]

B.A.R. release:

SATO GETS EARLY HOME CROWD RACE DEBUT FOR B•A•R

Following the news that he is not to be retained by the Lucky Strike B•A•R Honda team in 2004, Jacques Villeneuve has withdrawn from competing in the Japanese Grand Prix. His manager Craig Pollock commented: “Jacques is extremely disappointed not to be staying with the team next year, and he simply felt that his heart would not be in it for the coming weekend. As a result he asked that he be allowed to stand down. We are grateful to David Richards, and the team, for releasing him early from his contract.”

After Tuesday’s announcement that Takuma Sato will drive for the team in 2004, and given that he is the team’s current third driver, it was natural that he would take over as Jenson Button’s team-mate, albeit rather earlier than anticipated. Expressing his surprise and delight, Takuma commented: “This was not what I was expecting this weekend, and I cannot express how excited I am to be making my debut for B•A•R in front of my home crowd. It is going to be pretty crazy, but I am confident that I can do a good job.”

In 2002, whilst driving for the Jordan Honda team, Takuma produced a widely admired result at the Suzuka circuit. After qualifying in a personal best 7th position, he followed it up with a sparkling drive to 5th place and his first Formula One points. Given his background in Honda Dream, he knows the Suzuka circuit intimately, and it will provide an ideal environment for his debut. In addition, having completed over 7000 kms of testing with the team in 2003, he knows the B•A•R Honda 005 race car extremely well.

David Richards commented: “Well the end of our season has been rather dramatic, and I certainly was not expecting this, but you have to respect a driver’s decision if he feels he cannot give his best when facing these circumstances. Clearly, as we had already decided on Taku for 2004, we have faith that he will deliver for the team this weekend, and I am pleased that he should start racing with us on a track he knows so well. Now we have to focus all our resources on getting the result we need to secure 5th place in the championship.”

[climb]

It is surely good news for Honda to show his beloved driver at his hometrack; he's expected to attract more fans, despite JV's loss.
About Jacques, well, as i siad on another thread, the party is over for him.
He appears to quit F1 drowning in a lake of money...

[jetsetter]

It is an interesting situation for BAR as they're going to make an absolute fortune from merchandise with Sato driving for them but i'm not sure if he'll do any better than JV.

[jonathanc]

Unfortunately it makes better commercial sense to run Sato instead of JV. Im sure the fact the announcement came from JV is just a PR thing to save face.

Personally, If I was Dave Richards I would have done the same thing. Remember the teams dont do all this for fun, they are a business.

Good luck with the demolition derby sato, especially if it is wet

[joe rossi]

Let's face it...he'll put it in the armco on lap one, or the Honda power will give up the ghost by half way!

[josvandeperre]

How long ago did the rumour about the change for this race begin ? Let this be a lesson to anyone who disputes the F1 rumour machine - sometimes there is truth in it !

[Adam43]

Originally posted by Super Tourer
I've merged these two threads to make it easy to follow the comments.

Nice one.

[ASCII Man]

I want to change my prediction!!!

[crazytrain]

We'll thats dissapointing, he would of had tons of pressure from the media I guess but he should have raced. For all we know Honda has everyting to do with this. One thing that ****es me off is JV has a contract to end the year yet Sato all week was saying things like he's dissapointed not to drive at Suzuka, and he's known about his drive in 2004 since last year.......

[Inigo Montoya]

Fantastic news! Forza Taku!!!

[Adam43]

I tmakes sense to give Sato a ride in preparation for next year. However it is a shame that Jacques won't get a last GP. And the team miss out on the publicity of this.

It seems that Jacques has been nothing but very (too much?) open about the whole situation.

[z2252314]

Perhaps we'll see Button get pushed for once this year.

[Smokey 6 litre]

So where are all those people who said JV was going to smash Button this year? Own up and i'll accept your appologies...what do you mean no?...how dare you speak to me like that...come here!

[ASCII Man]

I'm here, put 'em up!

*punches Smokey in the nose*

[RickP:Clio51]

I think sadly Jacques always opted to fuel his BAR a little heavier and then it never lasted long enough in the race to prove anything so we'll never have a true answer as to who was the faster. The guy proved his speed in CART.

[Sodemo]

So now we can look forward to watching 60 odd laps of Sato trolling around in 15th place courtesy of our Japanese director?

[ASCII Man]

We might get to see some spectacular crashes again too!