Wings and a Prayer
The 2006 season began with question marks raised over the rear of the Ferrari car. In Malaysia, the accusations moved to the front. Adam Cooper has been following closely the flexi-wing affair, and he brings a first-hand account, with new details and plenty of insight
Let me take you back to the 1993 Le Mans 24 Hours, and an earlier chapter in Jean Todt's long career. A classic confrontation between the works Peugeot and Toyota teams is in prospect, and Philippe Alliot has claimed first blood for the French manufacturer by putting his 905B on pole. However, after setting his quick lap time he's had a huge crash in the Porsche Curves, slamming the sleek white machine into a concrete wall.
Back in the paddock, the disappointed mechanics load the crumpled remains into a truck and transport them back to the Paris factory for overnight 'repairs.' It's their only option, since substitution of a T-car means starting from the back of the grid, and the enormous PR value of pole will be lost.
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