[esteem_lover]

I think those comments were in bad taste as was Mr. everyonelovesmallya'sbeer.

Originally Posted by pypkmsrikanth

While not trying to support NK, I think both of them sail in the same boat. What has Force India given back to India forget the drivers, have we got any Indians part of the team to learn cutting technology from the team. Its got India only for name. Its pot calling the kettle from both sides. Mr. Mallya is as interested in India with his "Force India" as much as Big Bernie is interested in F1.

I wonder what Mr. Mallya has achieved so far with his 'phoren' drivers ? he has 2 settled losers, why not try a 3rd one ?

[howler]

more like rotten grapes. I always observed that when he got knocked out or performed like a senile old woman at the wheel, he would always blame the car or the team or the weather . or something but his abilities. An when by someone elses misfortune or by gods grace he would actually finish intact he would heap credit on himself, at the same time gurgling on how tough it was to race under the conditions. IMO hes a spoilt brat who did not even deserve to race carts.

[Sudipto-S-Team]

The F1 racing circuit feels Mallya got into F1 because that's the only way of getting assured VIP seats at the races. Otherwise his track record as an owner of any competitive sporting organisation is pretty pedestrian. Everyone knows his exploits in the cricket field. His horses do win races but that's not really quite the same.
Having said that, his Indian-ness should not really be questioned - what with the fortune that he paid for the sword of Tipu Sultan that he didn't even keep for himself.

[RX135]

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

I wonder what Mr. Mallya has achieved so far with his 'phoren' drivers ? he has 2 settled losers, why not try a 3rd one ?

Mallya may not have done anything for India except using "India" in the name, but he has all the right to choose drivers, whom he considers superior among the available lot.

Just because his drivers haven't won him any points so far, it doesn't mean that he should not try to win some in future. And, Phisichella is certainly bigger name than NK in F1 world. If you have put your money on something, you would try best to get returns on that, with Indian or non-Indian driver.

[FERRO]

Narain is our very own jenson button. lol

[finneyp]

I agree with RX, VM has put his money, so he will pick the best drivers among the lot that is affordable to him.

NK's credentials in F1 isn't that great to impress the likes of VM.

[Spitfire]

He is over the hill now. These are the parting shots. Dont take him seriously.

[the_trooper]

Naren has as much right to say what he wants about any team, as Mr.Vijay Mallya has to choose his drivers.

I wasnt too kicked about Force India when I heard the drivers list. It made sense to Mr.Mallya, and it was his money. I just didnt feel as passionate about it. Maybe I would have if some there was some Indian driver, tuner, brain, pit crew, engineer or heck, even a pit girl! (ok, i m kidding about the pit girl.)

And Narain did spend a fortune of his wealth before he even got to smell F1 fumes. It's just that he doesnt make a soap opera out of it by giving out the story everywhere. Sponsors and ads came after many years.

There hundreds of other Indians, who spend their own resources (probably all of them) to enter competitive racing as privateers - rallying, the Raid, track racing, etc. And they get very minimal coverage from the media and ZERO sponsorships. They do it anyway.

Maybe they should all shy away from it unless they KNOW they are going to win the race. Otherwise, they way judgements are being passed around here, they might all be thrown to the lions.

[kbk_75]

I tend to agree with Trooper, it's so easy to go about bashing a driver. Yes, maybe it is sour grapes talking, but after trying so hard to reach the top, then getting there and finding yourself floundering in some shark infested waters, it would happen to anyone.

At any rate I think it was a pretty dumb move to rename the team Force India, but at the end of the day all this talk was the motivation behind the name, to get the Indian public talking about the team. Both sides have said some silly things, for instance that Force India will be on the podium by the first Indian GP in 2010 (2011?). No harm in being ambitious, but first talk about scoring a single point, then about consistently scoring points, then about your first podium.

The way I see it there are two classic examples of how to go about things in the business of Formula 1.

The wrong way is the BAR Honda way. The right way is the BMW Sauber way. Something to consider for Vijay Mallya perhaps.

[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by kbk_75

I tend to agree with Trooper, it's so easy to go about bashing a driver.

Aren't we just great in that ?

[AutoMad]

I think everyone is making too big a deal of NK's performance in Indianapolis 2005. You can't judge him by that single race. Also, if you are calling it a four car race implying that he was any competetion to the ferraris, then why forget that there were two minardis on the circuit as well. I think untill we see NK in a better equipped car, we cant really write him off!

[narayan]

Originally Posted by RX135

Mallya may not have done anything for India except using "India" in the name, but he has all the right to choose drivers, whom he considers superior among the available lot.

Just because his drivers haven't won him any points so far, it doesn't mean that he should not try to win some in future. And, Phisichella is certainly bigger name than NK in F1 world. If you have put your money on something, you would try best to get returns on that, with Indian or non-Indian driver.

In the same vein, i guess NK has the right to have an opinion too as to - for whom he wants to race ..
whats the point of this thread ?? looks more like an excuse to do some NK bashing !!

[madan80]

....It wasn't necessary to degrade a team like that especially when it's the first and only Indian team....

this has always been my bone of contention - the team's being touted as an "Indian" team- but why? firstly, its not bringing out any "Indian" talent - the team is based in the UK, secondly, its someone's personal team, how can they name it after the nation?

Do we see Super Aguri calling themselves Aguri Japan, or a Chinese team calling themselves team China? Sadly no.

I personally believe the name India should be removed from the team name...

[sadsack]

Originally Posted by madan80

this has always been my bone of contention - the team's being touted as an "Indian" team- but why? firstly, its not bringing out any "Indian" talent - the team is based in the UK, secondly, its someone's personal team, how can they name it after the nation?

Do we see Super Aguri calling themselves Aguri Japan, or a Chinese team calling themselves team China? Sadly no.

I personally believe the name India should be removed from the team name...

I think Narain is generally facing the situation which all sportspersons have to someday. Somebody on this forum said that he did not deserve to be in karts. Obviously that someone has forgotten that Narain has been a winner in Formula Asia, Formula 3, Renault World Series and even A1 GP. This is the fickleness of fans. Two out of three people who have called him a loser have mispelt 'looser'. I would think that is enough said about their credentials.
Mallya is at his best a motor mouth. I do not think motor mouths equate to good motorsport managers. All he cares about is money and different people who are part of his organization have as much respect as a peice of metal. He would happily throw away people without the slightest of remorse. Yes Force India is a misnomer. Except for Mallya's 50% percent stake in the team, there is nothing more Indian in it. Come to think of it even the 50% is probably all not Indian. Remember he has business interests in other parts of the world and has called Singapore his home. So much for him. I do not think we should waste so much time and energy on the rubbish that he spews.

[RX135]

Originally Posted by narayan

In the same vein, i guess NK has the right to have an opinion too as to - for whom he wants to race ..
whats the point of this thread ?? looks more like an excuse to do some NK bashing !!

Difference being that, Mallya has a F1 team and he is in position to choose any driver that he wish to choose, whereas Narain doesn't stand any chance in current F1 scenario. What you are saying would make sense, had Narain got any other deal in F1.

There is no reason to bash NK. He was the first Indian driver to race F1 and nothing can take that away from him.