Jo Ramirez Q&A

"I never really have. If you've going to be honest, our position is really fifth and sixth, because Williams and Ferrari have overtaken us. The job that Mika did in qualifying to be second was totally outstanding, and of course losing the second place and starting fourth was disappointing. But I think it made him charge even more. When he came here I think he was a little bit more relaxed, having told the world, 'I'm a little bit pissed off with F1 and want to take time off.' But he's come back and showed he's only taking time off, he's not over the hill, in qualifying and the race. And that was just brilliant, I'm so happy for him. He's not just given me a Harley Davidson ( a present at the Hungarian Grand Prix), but I had 113 wins before, and I didn't want to finish on that. So 114 sounds a lot better!"



"It was brilliant. When the pit stop was coming they said, 'If you push now, you can win this race.' And he did push, and he was on target. When he was about 3.3s in front of Barrichello, and it closed to about 2.6s, he put a quick one in and then I think Rubens got the message. I'm sorry he had a problem, but it left us first and third."



"I had butterflies in my stomach all day long, and when it was over I just could not believe it. What a way to go! The whole time I have had so many mixed feelings, and I still do. To finish on a win, first and third... Somewhere in the back of my mind I'm thinking you idiot, do you really want to leave? Yesterday I was watching qualifying with one of my brothers, and when Mika came out of the garage, spinning his wheels, he said, 'You're stupid. How are you going to leave this?' He's right, but I think you've got to choose the time rather than let time choose you."



"I have no regrets. I've had a wonderful life, I've had the golden years of the sport in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, I've worked with some of the most fantastic and charismatic race drivers that ever existed, and I will have wonderful memories. Who knows? I may still come back doing something little, something that keeps me coming back to a few races. Anybody that wants to give me some money, I can give them my address!"



"No. The reason I chose to have a party here was that it's an easier place to come, so that I could bring my wife and daughter and my brother could come from Mexico. I thought it was only one coming, but seven of them came! Also the fact that this is a place where most of the people that I have worked with in my life will be here - Dan Gurney, Alain Prost, Jackie Stewart, Gerhard Berger, Emerson Fittipaldi, people like that. Unfortunately some of them didn't make it because of what happened on September 11th. Nevertheless at least we still had a race, and we were still able to celebrate. Winning was a bonus..."