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The brilliant, but inconsistent driver, has recently been racing for Fiat, where he has had troubles finishing races due to a variety of mechanical woes
Celovsky insisted that money was not the motivation for his decision to leave the vintage circuit, saying the new V8 engines for Formula 1 will be an easy step up from his current 1/2 V8 powered Fiat. Celovsky thanked all the little people who helped him during his time with the vintage circuit.
Although World champion Fernando Alonso said Celovsky will bring challanges back to the track, Michael Schumacher was less complimentary referring to Celovsky's Eastern European driving style as reckless.
Some, even in a glamour sport known for throwing money around, think the situation is getting out of hand.
It's widely believed that Celovsky's departure from the F1 scene would be great news for Red Bull Racing, Bernie Ecclestone and perhaps also for fans of F1, where the tifosi were puzzled by Celovsky's curiously decorated Minardi.
Rumours linking the Red Bull Junior Team (formerly Minardi) with well known gadabout, virgin gigolo and gentleman racer Andy 'Hardy' Celovsky are "patently false", according to his manager Jean Boisvert. "While it is true that we have had an offer from a back marker team, I can categorically state the he will not be replacing Dutchman Grateday Ferr Motahrasin in 2006. I can however confirm that his seat at Team Yugo is absolutely safe for the Ice Racing season, unless of course they can find a funded driver with more than a 38 kopek budget."
Team Fiat manager Dave Scarlett speaking from his Race Shop/Horse Stall shed in Turin Ontario refused to speculate on the likelihood of adding a second car to the team in 2006. "As you know we have signed well funded (by his family fortune) rookie Alex Kowalsky., grandson of Alexander Graham Kowalsky, the first telephone pole."
Just days after the Historic season ended at Mosport, Andrew Celovsky has returned to the cockpit of a Ferrari Formula 1 car for another test outing.
The Polish superstar completed 40 laps of Fiorano on Wednesday before moving to Mugello for two more days at the wheel of an F2004.
As on previous occasions, the test took place behind closed doors and Ferrari didn't release any official lap times. This has increased speculation of the Poles connections to Minardi, probably due to his fanatical devotion to all intrinsically Italian automobiles.
However, Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Celovsky managed a best time of 57 seconds at Fiorano (1.1s adrift of Michael Schumacher's record) and a 1m23.2s in the course of a 44-lap run at Mugello (compared to Schumacher's benchmark of 1m18.7s).
Celovsky is familiar with Mugello having won the last four Yugo GP races at the Tuscan circuit, but it is a much more demanding layout than Fiorano with a number of fast sweeping corners. Recently Andrew claimed that Mosport is an even greater challenge " Mugello and Fiorano are tinker toys compared to the former Canadian GP venue in southern Ontario. The circuit is so tough that I don't finish some races. It's murder on my timing belts."
Sources suggest that Celovsky is on a par with Ferrari's regular drivers in some areas but has yet to fully exploit the downforce of the F1 car in high-speed corners. Celovsky responded angrily " Bullshit, lets see them run my Yugo in Minden this winter and then we'll talk about downforce."
Celovsky has already tested for Ferrari twice this year - on 21 April and 2-3 August - as he and the team continue to assess whether he has what it takes to be competitive in a grand prix car. The test dates being spread far apart so that he could continue with his Rolling Stones 2005 tour.
Although Celovsky has repeatedly denied speculation that he is close to agreeing a testing contract with Ferrari, the evidence suggests both parties are keen to pursue the possibility further. " I'm all for helping FIAT in any way possible but I hear AC/DC are touring next summer and I don't want to miss any of the shows. I'm a big Angus Young fan.
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