“What was improbable about it was we’d simply had that large accident in Canada because of a brake failure… Heinz went to hospital, he had some inside bruising and a crack in his backbone, and the phrases the physician utilized in Montreal have been, ‘You’ve damaged the bones in your again’. Once you had an accident like that, you needed to get signed off by Sid Watkins. In France, I keep in mind going with Heinz as much as Sid, on the Thursday earlier than follow, and we have been nervous about getting signed off. We went into the room, and naturally we had briefed Heinz beforehand, Sid regarded up and stated, ‘What are you guys doing right here?’. We stated, ‘We’ve come to get signed off’. He stated, ‘Yeah, you’re signed off, it’s all accomplished’.
“What’s the saying? Once you’ve bought the automobile, cease speaking. I keep in mind pondering, ‘Let’s get out of this room’. Heinz bought aggravated by it as a result of he thought, ‘Grasp on, I bought injured within the Canadian Grand Prix, I’m extra injured than what Sid’s saying’. I’m saying, ‘Don’t say that, it doesn’t matter, he’s signed you off, it’s all good, let’s get out of right here’. Thankfully for us, Sid wouldn’t pay attention. Quick ahead three days, Heinz wins the Grand Prix and on Sunday night time, Sid comes previous the storage and says, ‘I advised you he wasn’t injured… As should you may win a Grand Prix if you’ve bought a damaged again’.”
Mark Gallagher, Head of Advertising and marketing, Jordan: “In parallel to Heinz having a tremendous season in 1999, Damon had a really tough time. One thing that doesn’t usually get written about, however is a reality, is that halfway via that Magny-Cours race, Damon introduced his retirement. When Damon bought again to the paddock, he was actually fed up and advised BBC Radio 5 Reside and everybody behind the paddock that he was retiring. However, after all, that information story bought buried due to what occurred subsequent, when Heinz received the race.
“What then passed off was a really tough second between Damon and Eddie [Jordan, Team Principal], the place Damon wished to cease, however he wished to be paid, and admittedly Eddie didn’t need to pay him, in any other case he must preserve going. As an alternative, Damon saved going for the stability of the season and it wasn’t a really blissful time. That French Grand Prix from my perspective was a really bittersweet day, as a result of Damon was struggling and Heinz was capable of ship the win. It was an incredible victory, however from a communications facet, it was a tough afternoon for the group.”
