Blazing Lion
7th Feb 2008, 09:19 AM
In the middle of the 2008 season Rubens Barichello will become the driver with most grand prix entries breaking the record of Ricardo Patrese .Till now he has entered 253 grand prix from the South African GP in 1993 to the Brazilian GP in 2007.Refer to the article below.
This season Rubens Barrichello is expected to knock the Italian Riccardo Patrese, who entered 257 Grands Prix between 1977 to 1993 off the top spot and become Formula One racing’s most experienced driver. Having already attended 253 Grands Prix - and with another season driving for Honda ahead of him - Barrichello will set a new record this year.
Exactly when the Brazilian should celebrate the milestone, however, is more difficult to pin down and the 36 year-old, who is believed to have commissioned a special helmet for the event, remains unsure at which event he should mark the occasion. Statistically speaking he will better Patrese’s record of 257 at May’s Turkish Grand Prix. However, the age-old debate over whether it’s Grand Prix entries or actual race starts that count is causing no end of headaches for Barrichello and his team.
Out of 257 entries, Patrese raced in only 256, after failing to start the 1979 Argentinean Grand Prix for Arrows. Schumacher, in comparison, started 248 of his 250 Grands Prix, missing the 1996 French race after his engine blew on the parade lap and failing to restart the 1999 British Grand Prix after breaking his leg during a first-lap accident.
Barrichello’s stats are slightly more complicated, with the Sao Paolo native failing to start four of his 253 Grand Prix, most notably the doomed 1994 San Marino round where he suffered a serious accident during Friday practice. With this in mind, Barrichello will beat Patrese’s number of race starts when he leaves the grid for June’s French event. Confusing yes, or perhaps just a reason to celebrate twice.
One thing is certain, Barrichello’s ‘reign’ is likely to last a season or two at least. His closest rival in the ‘elder statesmen’ stakes is Red Bull’s David Coulthard, currently more than 20 races behind, on 229 entries and 228 starts.
This season Rubens Barrichello is expected to knock the Italian Riccardo Patrese, who entered 257 Grands Prix between 1977 to 1993 off the top spot and become Formula One racing’s most experienced driver. Having already attended 253 Grands Prix - and with another season driving for Honda ahead of him - Barrichello will set a new record this year.
Exactly when the Brazilian should celebrate the milestone, however, is more difficult to pin down and the 36 year-old, who is believed to have commissioned a special helmet for the event, remains unsure at which event he should mark the occasion. Statistically speaking he will better Patrese’s record of 257 at May’s Turkish Grand Prix. However, the age-old debate over whether it’s Grand Prix entries or actual race starts that count is causing no end of headaches for Barrichello and his team.
Out of 257 entries, Patrese raced in only 256, after failing to start the 1979 Argentinean Grand Prix for Arrows. Schumacher, in comparison, started 248 of his 250 Grands Prix, missing the 1996 French race after his engine blew on the parade lap and failing to restart the 1999 British Grand Prix after breaking his leg during a first-lap accident.
Barrichello’s stats are slightly more complicated, with the Sao Paolo native failing to start four of his 253 Grand Prix, most notably the doomed 1994 San Marino round where he suffered a serious accident during Friday practice. With this in mind, Barrichello will beat Patrese’s number of race starts when he leaves the grid for June’s French event. Confusing yes, or perhaps just a reason to celebrate twice.
One thing is certain, Barrichello’s ‘reign’ is likely to last a season or two at least. His closest rival in the ‘elder statesmen’ stakes is Red Bull’s David Coulthard, currently more than 20 races behind, on 229 entries and 228 starts.