(Aug. 24) After just nine months on the job, Bobby Rahal found out just how fickle the F1 circus can be.
Rahal has parted ways with the Jaguar Formula One team following a meeting with team management on Thursday.
An official statement from the team says the departure was mutually agreed upon and made in the best interests of the team.
Niki Lauda, who had been in charge of Ford's Premier Performance Division, now takes over Rahal's role as team principle.
"It has been a tremendous privilege to play a key role in the formative stages of the development of Jaguar Racing," said Rahal. "I have truly enjoyed the time I have spent with the many talented people at Jaguar Racing and I wish them all the best for the future."
Rahal will return to his ownership duties with Team Rahal in the CART series. It's believed he will receive around $5-million US in order to cover the remaining two years of his contract.
"I would like to thank Bobby for the contribution he has made to Jaguar Racing," added Lauda.
Rahal was brought in last December to try and rebuild the sagging fortunes of the Jaguar team. However, reports of problems developing between Rahal and Lauda began surfacing earlier this year.
Lauda's decision to allow Cosworth to sell engines to Arrows next year and Rahal's offer to sell Eddie Irvine to Jordan earlier this month highlighted some of the management difficulties between the two men.
Then there was the 'Newey-gate' affair. Rahal appeared to have pulled off a coup when Jaguar announced it had lured technical director Adrian Newey away from McLaren. However, Newey changed his mind and despite saying that Jaguar had a binding deal with Newey, both sides settled the issue without going through a prolonged court battle. The end result was Newey remained at McLaren and Jaguar ended up with egg on its face.
(Sep 17) MILAN, Italy (AP) - Formula One champion Michael Schumacher will race in this month's U.S. Grand Prix.
"I'm not thinking at all about not driving in the U.S.A. and Japan," Schumacher said Monday in a statement issued by Ferrari.
The Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper reported Monday that Ferrari would allow Schumacher to skip the race if he wanted to.
Gazzetta said Ferrari would use test driver Luca Badoer for the Sept. 30 U.S. Grand Prix in Indianapolis if Schumacher doesn't drive. Schumacher clinched his fourth world title last month.
Before Sunday's Formula One race in Monza, Schumacher said: "After things which have happened in the United States and with one driver in hospital badly hurt, we have a question whether we should be racing."
As first reported by TSN Formula One analyst Gerald Donaldson, Villeneuve had more than just driving on his mind at the U.S. Grand Prix at Indinapolis.
The former world champion took time out to propose to his 19 year old girlfriend, New York based ballerina Ellie Green. The two have been dating for just three months since they first met back in July when Villeneuve was visiting his sister in New York.
According to Donaldson, Villeneuve popped the question on Friday night with a sparkling, diamond engagement ring.
Apparently, Villeneuve did not want to take the spotlight away from his friend and Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya, who also announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Connie Freydel this past weekend.
This is Villeneuves' second engagement in six months following official confirmation earlier this year that he and Australian actress Dannii Minogue had split up.