The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Motor : Jordan chief irks Narain Karthikeyan

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Sunday, Jun 12, 2005

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Sport - Racing : Motor

Jordan chief irks Narain Karthikeyan

`I don't know what Colin Kolles is complaining about'

MONTREAL: Under-fire Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan admitted on Saturday that he has been angered by criticism from Jordan boss Colin Kolles and revealed the pair are barely speaking after a recent dispute.

Kolles said on Friday that he was forced to have words with Karthikeyan after being disappointed by the rookie driver's performances at the last two races in Monaco and the Nurburgring.

And as he prepared for Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix, Karthikeyan said: ``I don't know what he is complaining about. The first five races I did well and you are bound to have some bad races.

``Colin must also realise that this car is really bad to drive and it is easy to make mistakes, so they should try to improve the car also. There is no point just complaining.

Not on speaking terms

``He doesn't speak to me very much any more, so that is a good thing. He thinks if he is very direct (in criticism) it helps, but sometimes it doesn't, so it's good and bad.

``I was not upset, you come across a lot of things like this in Formula One so it doesn't matter. (We get on) okay, but not like we did a month ago. He is just management, so I really don't have to have a conversation with him.''

Jordan, which is running a development of its 2004 car, is yet to score a point this season as it struggles through a development year following the purchase of the team by Midland Group boss Alex Shnaider.

New car

The team will bring in a new car for the French Grand Prix at the start of July but with Renault keen to put Frenchman Franck Montagny in the car for his home race, Karthikeyan could even face a spell on the sidelines.

Kolles confirmed that he would be happy to bring back Montagny, who tested for the team at the Nurburgring, but it is understood that his role would only be as a test and reserve driver and Karthikeyan would continue to race.

But the Indian admitted he was already looking for a new place to drive next year and said: ``Right now I just do my job and at the end of the year find a different place.

``If the car is not good here, I try to do a good job with what I have, and obviously I want to be driving for a better team because a lot of things are, kind of, confused at the moment.

``They don't know what kind of car there will be next year and everything, but once that comes clear it will be much easy for everyone working for the team to know the direction in which it is heading.''

The team has had to cope with the departure of Trevor Carlin ahead of this weekend's event, the former sporting director believed to be another victim of Kolles' firm management style.

But Karthikeyan is focusing on his own performance and said: ``I don't care what happens. I have done a good job, for sure, so it just keeps going and I will try my best for Sunday.

``I don't know if Trevor leaving will be a good thing or a bad thing, but for sure he pointed us in the right direction and hopefully if they continue in that path it could be better.'' — AFP

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