Grapevine: Final News from the Paddock

Local Spin - Fact or Fiction?

Formula One was expected to take over the city when it arrived this weekend but much of the bustling downtown population seemed blissfully uninterested that a race was taking place. Rather than Shanghai being in awe of Formula One it seemed the other way around as the global roadshow tried to break through the hoards of people with the odd display board or poster around the place.

In the Shanghai Star, one columnist declared that the "all-singing all-dancing F1 circus" could be seen "on large screens, on countless posters and in the pit girls standing for hours pouting in Shanghai's September drizzle." But, in fact, all of these items, including the inclement weather, seemed decidedly lacking and one unidentified Shanghai model was quoted as admitting: "I am not interested in F1 and won't go to the race because of my job."

Formula One could be found, however, but only made a major impact in the well-developed, high class European-style areas of the city. Still, with 1.3 billion people, if Formula One can take on in those areas alone it will win a fantastic following in the Peoples Republic.

Wrong Animal

Rumours that the Jaguar sale had been suddenly rushed through in Shanghai gained momentum on Saturday lunchtime when race organisers were seen removing the Jaguar signage from above the entrance doors to their team buildings at the Shanghai International Circuit. But the discovery of a sudden saviour was not the reason the white signs were being ripped down - it was because the organisers, faced with the lack of the word Jaguar in Chinese, spelt out the name of another American animal in the characters written below the Jaguar name and it was deemed not appropriate.

Polo Player

Formula One team boss Eddie Jordan took to the track this weekend in the Polo Cup but his initial practice session did not go well as he finished last, 20 seconds off the pace, after his car broke down after just one flying lap. Jordan, a former racer, signed up to join his former driver Martin Brundle and numerous other ex-F1 aces in a celebrity race to mark the inaugural event at the Shanghai International Circuit but he pulled out and refused to blame fears over a lack of pace for the decision to quit - a spokesman said he had been drawn away because of business meeting commitments at the track. Former Formula One driver Stefan Johansson claimed pole but dropped to second at the start and finished down in fourth as Italian former Ferrari driver Ivan Capelli snuck through on the final lap to claim the win.