September 20, 2004

by Anthony Underwood

Juan Montoya was quoted as saying this after last Sunday’s race. "I think the Ferrari's are good for the sport and they had 20-odd bad years without winning anything so it was about time for them to win something, it was about time they had a few years of success," said Montoya. "But it will not be long before it is going to be over, for sure, and someone else is going to start winning races for three or four years, some other team. Hopefully next year McLaren.

We'll see." I reckon the joy of his first son coming is not enough to cover the red-faced envy Juan has over this season.

I think someone should show the lad the record books for sure, then he would know that this season is no fluke or incident, but the result of years of hard work by a dedicated team. Ferrari is the only team to compete in every single season of Formula One from the beginning. Thirteen World Driving Championships, Thirteen Constructors Championships, 160 Grand Prix wins, and 159 Pole Positions. It seems to me that the boys of Maranello have nothing to hang their heads over.

The Scuderia has kept the fire that Enzo had for racing and winning. Mr. Ferrari knew nothing but winning. He carried that desire into the construction of his racing and streetcars. He once said, "My great passion was never to race cars, but to witness their births."

These days the competition hates to see the birth of the next Ferrari.

The team has been able to do great things mainly because they are not limited to sponsorship needs. It was only after signing Schumacher that a sponsor was even on the car. That is another tradition carried on from Mr. Ferrari. He never wanted to see his cars become a billboard. He often joked about Agipe the Italian Oil Company, by mocking their logo, calling it a six-legged dog.

Ferrari went through a time when they were not willing to put out the cash for the best people in the sport. All changed by hiring Michael Schumacher; they got his whole engineering group from Benetton. In order to pay for the most victorious combination in Formula One history, Ferrari brought on Marlboro, as a primary sponsor and set about making history. The current leaders of Ferrari have left a mark on the team as deep as the founder and that is for sure to carry over into the next generation of leaders.

For his part Sunday was the perfect day to see Rubens win the race from the pole. Rubens has for years stood in the shadow of the greatest driver in the history of the sport; yet he has set himself apart in the process. Ruben has worked hard at being the number two driver for Ferrari and he deserves to be credited as much as Schumacher for the success of Ferrari over the past few seasons. Will Ruben ever be World Champion? No he will not. But who is Batman without Robin?

Juan is correct in one thing, which is as years come and go -- so does the dominance of any team. Who will it be, no one knows? No other team in the high price, high stakes game of Formula One has the assets that Ferrari has. Ferrari has almost a total in-house manufacturing facility, its own test track, and the rabid fans known as the Tifosi. To understand Ferrari the words of the founder show where they are headed.

"Ideas and tenacity are our strength." Yes Mr. Ferrari they are and fans around the world await the next chapter.

You can contact Anthony Underwood at.. Speed News Now