News Article

Source: BBC Ceefax
Date: March 9
Subject: Collision destroys way to victory


Title favourite Jacques Villeneuve went out of the race at the first corner in a dramatic start to the race. The Canadian was outpaced off the grid by Heinz-Harald Frentzen and eventual winner David Coulthard. He was then clipped from behind by Eddie Irvine's Ferrari at the opening left-hander and slid off, taking the Sauber of Johnny Herbert with him. Irvine did not much further as a damaged front wheel forced him to call it a day.

Frustrated Jacques Villeneuve accused Eddie Irvine of attempting a "kamikaze pass" following his first corner exit. "It's enormously frustrating for me, especially after dominating qualifying by more than a second and a half. Approaching the turn, I was on the inside of (Johnny) Herbert and suddenly Irvine went on the dirt and tried a kamikaze pass," the Canadian said. "It's not the first time he's done something like that. It doesn't surprise me, coming from him."

Johnny Herbert stammed Irishman Eddie Irvine following his first lap exit from the season's opening race. Herbert made an excellent start in his Ferrari-powered Sauber but was taken off by Jacques Villeneuve after Irvine had clipped the rear of his car. "As we went into the corner I could see he (Villeneuve) wasn't turning. We just interlocked wheels and that was it. Eddie has got to think a little bit more about what he is doing at the start," Herbert commented.