Alesi pledges to sign off in style
Retiring star Jean Alesi says he will be signing off from Grand Prix racing with the fastest weekend of his 12-year Formula 1 career at Suzuka in Japan
The 37-year-old Frenchman, who announced his retirement after being sidelined by Jordan's signing of Takuma Sato, topped the timesheets at the end of the first day's practice for Sunday's Japanese GP.
"I enjoyed it today because I am retiring," he said. "For that reason it is very important to use all these sessions to enjoy my racing life. I really love motor racing. I need it and I have to stop - but I want to stop in the best way I can."
He denied that the time-topping performance was not representative of what the Honda-powered Jordan - racing on Honda's home circuit - is capable of.
"The car is very competitive," he said. " You have to understand you cannot do anything without the car. I am not sure what we are capable of this weekend. At the moment everyone needs to be patient, just like me. For sure, this will be the fastest weekend of my life."
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