Eddie Irvine sensationally pulled out of the Austrian Grand Prix yesterday on the advice of medical staff at the A1 Ring circuit. The Irishman, who had been complaining of stomach pains since arriving in Austria on Thursday, immediately flew home last night for further tests. First reports suggested the pains were due to appendicitis.
"Having taken the advice of doctors in Austria, Eddie Irvine has flown back to London for tests so a fuller diagnosis can be given," said Neil Ressler, head of Jaguar racing. "It was the opinion of the medical team that given the discomfort he was in there was little point of him continuing this weekend. "
Jaguar test driver Luciano Burti will be drafted in to replace Irvine in today's qualifying and tomorrow's race.
It was a tough day for Irvine yesterday. The Irishman was sidelined in both free practice sessions, first with his car having gearbox problems and then an electrical fault. Meanwhile BAR driver Jacques Villeneuve questioned Michael Schumacher's racing ethics as he joined the growing row over the Ferrari driver's controversial starts this season.
On Thursday, David Coulthard, who nearly collided with Schumacher as the German cut across the track to prevent the Scot stealing into the lead at the start of the French Grand Prix, said he would seek clarification on the rules governing starts at the drivers' briefing ahead of tomorrow's race.
Yesterday, Villeneuve said the German was the only driver making such dangerous starts. "It seems like it's always the same person doing it and he always gets away with it," he said. "Then again, if he gets away with it and he's happy doing it why should he stop? But when the drivers behind have to lift (off the throttle) to avoid an accident it's not fair."
Schumacher, though, may not get the chance to stage the kind of edgy start he made at Magny Cours with the Ferrari driver yesterday admitting that today's qualifying session is likely to be one of the tightest this year.
"I could be first or I could be fourth," said the German, who finished yesterday's free practice sessions at the bottom end of that order, with main championship rival Coulthard taking the top spot on the Friday timesheets and Mika Hakkinen, refreshed from his recent holiday, in second.
Unsurprisingly the leading positions are likely to be filled by the twin McLarens and Ferraris, though the order is for once mutable. Yesterday morning Rubens Barrichello eclipsed his more celebrated team-mate in the first session and looked comfortable and quick on just one set of tyres, while Coulthard will have to contend with a rejuvenated Hakkinen.
The double title holder looked fresher yesterday, finishing the day just two-tenths behind his team-mate, despite being sidelined for the whole of the morning session with a broken fuel pump.
The order, however, may for once be disrupted by the elements. With heavy rains falling at the A1 Ring late yesterday afternoon and with showers expected to continue into today, qualifying could turn into a lottery.
Rain would certainly benefit both Jordan drivers, who will contest the onehour shoot-out with the new Evo 2 version of the Mugen-Honda engine. Yesterday, as they worked through numerous set-up options, birthday celebrant Jarno Trulli proved the quicker, finishing sixth, with Heinz Harald Frentzen 18th.
Frentzen, though, was satisfied with his day's work, saying his position didn't reflect the team's potential. "We had a very constructive session today and I'm feeling quite happy," said the German. "The lap time is meaningless really as we were not making qualifying runs. The aim was to do our homework for the race."
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