EDDIE Jordan (pic), former owner of the Jordan team, yesterday said the
new Brawn GP team could go all the way and win the Formula One title this
year.
Jordan, 61, who is a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) analyst,
said Brawn GP could continue their scintillating form due to the
advantage their cars have with their rear diffusers, which some teams
consider illegal.
"You have got to look at the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, and
subject to the clarification of the rules, and if Brawn GP are allowed to
keep their diffusers, then they have a reasonable chance to fight for the
championship," Jordan said at a press conference in Penang yesterday.
Jordan is in Penang to give a motivational talk to the Penang Medical
College (PMC) students and will also be performing with his band, `Eddie
Jordan and the Robbers' at a leading hotel tomorrow.
Jordan will also be in Kuala Lumpur this weekend for the Petronas
Malaysian Grand Prix as BBC's analyst.
He described Brawn GP's one-two finish at the Australian Grand Prix as
a huge surprise, noting that "in many respects, they should never have
been there", referring to Brawn's fight for survival earlier this year.
"Really, it is like a fairytale, and then to be first and second on the
grid and to finish first and second in the race, it is probably in many
respects one the greatest not only motor racing stories, but probably one
of the greatest sporting stories of all time from a team in such a
competitive business.
"For them to come back so successfully, I have never recalled something
in my time quite as remarkable as this," he said.
Jordan also noted that Brawn had two very experienced drivers in Rubens
Barrichello and Jenson Button, who are both winners.
"I can never see him (Barrichello) as a world champion but you never
know. I do not see Button (as a champion) either. But the car is very
strong and very fast," he added.
Jordan, having worked with Barrichello when the latter was with him for
four years, described the Brazilian as "not the quickest driver in
Formula One but very experienced, wily, understands the business and very
kind with the car".
Note: This was published in NST Sports page 46 on Mar 31. It's my first sports story
to be published as an NST reporter.
