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6

Pedal to the Metal

The adrenalin of the most exciting and dangerous sport in the world has generated many pithy and quirky quotations which have been a feature of racing parlance for decades. Grand Prix racing represents a curious mixture of stark death and side-splitting humour. The following anthology concentrates exclusively on the brighter side of the sport. The cast includes the magnificent men in the flying speed machines, the fanatics who worship them and cameo appearances from mechanics, drivers’ wives and journalists.

1. Danger

The Road To Recovery

I don’t know what happened, but I think it was quick. I feel okay. It’s a bit difficult to breathe because of my nose and my hand hurts a bit. I’m off to play with the nurses now.

Rubens Barrichello, following an accident

Casualties

You win some, lose some, wreck some.

Dale Earnhardt

Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This

The accident didn’t hurt me at all. It’s an honour to have been under your wheels. I was more worried about you. I have followed you all over, and now I’ve met you face to face. It really is a dream come true.

Spectator Ian Neild, who fell under Nigel Mansell’s car at the end of the 1992 British Grand Prix

Speed

Brakes only slow you up.

Tazio Nuvolari

Unwanted Passenger

As well as everything else, there was a lizard in the car. I kept trying to reach it to put it out of the car, but it kept getting away from me. It was still there at the end of practice.

Ronnie Peterson, on the hazards of practising at Monza

A Nun’s Story

I don’t know why everything keeps going wrong. Somebody at Team Lotus must have run over a nun.

Jochen Rindt

Novices

Some of these guys think their mirrors are just for shaving.

Jody Scheckter, on novices

Clash of the Titans

This is probably what you get when you have one man who believes in God, and another who believes he is God.

A member of the McLaren team, on a row between Ayrton Senna and the president of FISA, Jean-Marie Balestre

The Poet Of Speed

Who do you think you are, Nigel Mansell?

No, actually I’m Ayrton Senna.

Conversation between a policeman and Ayrton Senna over speeding