Feature: Fisichella, the Roman Centurion

Giancarlo Fisichella, the fastest Roman in Formula One, becomes a centurion this weekend.

But the Italian's chances of spraying the champagne as a winner in his 100th Grand Prix are not great.

Only the 50th driver to chalk up a century of starts in Formula One history, Fisichella has never won and only rarely come close despite being rated as one of the fastest men on the track.

However he could well celebrate with a point or two for his Jordan team when the reconfigured Nurburgring hosts Sunday's European Grand Prix.

After a troubled start to the season, the little Roman has scored points in the last three races - a feat matched only by Ferrari's Michael Schumacher and McLaren's David Coulthard. He has finished in the top six at the circuit twice in the last four years, with Benetton, and is clearly at home with Irish entrepreneur Eddie Jordan - the boss who also recruited him in 1997.

"Fisichella is a very, very good driver, one of the best," said Jordan director of race and test engineering Gary Anderson before the weekend. At the beginning of the season we didn't give him a car or engine to match his ability, but we've worked very hard and I think we are moving in the right direction.

"Giancarlo has responded with a brilliant hat-trick of fifth places and although we're not yet in a position to beat the best teams, we are now giving both drivers something they can work with."

Reputation

Fisichella - Fisico to the Italians or just Fisi to the British - is a rarity as a driver with a great reputation without great achievements. Since he made his debut in Australia with Minardi in 1996, he has finished 80 of his 99 races and scored points in 26 of them.

Italian fans dream of seeing him in a Ferrari one day but, with Michael Schumacher confirmed to the end of 2004 along with Rubens Barrichello, that door seems closed.

He would have had a good car had he stayed at Renault after four seasons at Benetton but his contract was expensive to renew and compatriot Jarno Trulli took his place in the French carmaker's team.

Eddie Irvine, another former Jordan driver who did get the big break with Ferrari and won races, believes Fisichella had been held back by his career path.

Asked whether he would ever win a race, the Northern Irishman replied: "If he continues to make the career choices that he has made in the past, probably not. You need a car to win in Formula One. We've got to wait and see what choices he makes over the next few years."

But Irvine had no doubts about the Italian's abilities.

"He's beaten every teammate he's ever had so that's pretty impressive," he said of a list that includes Ralf Schumacher and Jenson Button. "But again he hasn't delivered results so there's always a question mark."

Fisichella's milestones include one pole position, in Austria in 1998, and five second place finishes. He also set the fastest lap in the 1997 Spanish Grand Prix.

Asked which was the race of his 100 that he was most pleased with, the Italian told the Gazzetta dello Sport this week that the first was unforgettable.

"I was happy, as excited as a rookie can be, but I had the feeling that this was where I belonged," he said. "Then I will never forget the first podium with Jordan, in Canada, the pole position at Zeltweg.

Asked about the future, he added: "My thoughts remain the same: a car to reach the top. That is my hope, my dream."