The 20 competitors in the 2004 Canadian Grand Prix this weekend and the United States Grand Prix, June 18-20 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, were asked what job they would like to have if they weren’t a Formula One driver:
“Soccer.” -- Michael Schumacher - Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, six-time World Champion, 2000 and 2003 USGP winner
“A mechanical engineer.” -- Rubens Barrichello - Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, 2002 USGP winner
“Probably some outdoor activity. Probably biking, with some racing activity in there, but definitely something that tested the body. An adventure school in Tasmania … somewhere I can drink all the red wine and eat all the chocolate! Providing the school runs itself.”
-- Mark Webber - Jaguar Racing
“I can’t imagine having done anything else, to be honest, but if that was the case, I would probably have continued with trying to make it as a professional ice hockey player.”
-- Kimi Raikkonen - West McLaren Mercedes
“I would probably have ended up working at my father’s haulage company, on the business side of things.”
-- David Coulthard - West McLaren Mercedes
“Outside of motorsport, I’d be racing either mountain bikes or doing triathlons or running. I’d be racing something.”
-- Cristiano da Matta - Panasonic Toyota Racing, 2002 CART champion
“I like all sports. Football (soccer) and cycling are my favorites for a second job.”
-- Fernando Alonso - Mild Seven Renault F1 Team
“I have no clue. I never thought about anything else because my whole life was in motorsports.”
-- Ralf Schumacher - BMW WilliamsF1 Team
“A lawyer. That job would be really interesting.”
-- Olivier Panis - Panasonic Toyota Racing
“Flying, where the speed is high. As a driver, I’d enjoy the speed and the G-forces in flying that you can have in these F1 cars.”
-- Zsolt Baumgartner - Wilux Minardi Cosworth
“I would like to do some other kind of sport like cycling and mountain biking.”
-- Nick Heidfeld - Jordan Ford
“I have no idea. I have been involved in this since I was 3 or 4 years old, so it is too difficult for me to make a decision now.”
-- Jarno Trulli - Mild Seven Renault F1 Team
“Cyclist, like the guys that race in the Tour de France.”
-- Gianmaria Bruni - Wilux Minardi Cosworth
“Before I started with motorsport I was a ski racer, so maybe I’d be a ski racer.”
-- Christian Klien - Jaguar Racing
“I have no idea. Possibly a (racing) cyclist, but I never thought about it.”
-- Takuma Sato - Lucky Strike BAR Honda
“I would be a football (soccer) player. I like to play football, it is my favorite hobby, and I play quite well. So if I wasn’t a F1 driver, I’d like to be a football player.”
-- Giancarlo Fisichella - Sauber Petronas
“I love cars. If I were not involved in motorsport, I’d be working with cars in some way. Something with engines, for sure.”
-- Felipe Massa - Sauber Petronas
“Football (soccer). I started to play football when I was very young, but motor racing was my first choice.”
-- Giorgio Pantano - Jordan Ford
The following exchange took place between Juan Pablo Montoya (BMW WilliamsF1 Team, 2000 Indianapolis 500 winner) and Jenson Button (Lucky Strike BAR Honda) when they were asked the question at a press conference.
Juan Pablo Montoya: “I don’t know. Probably an architect. My father used to be an architect. So when I was a kid, I wanted to be an architect.”
Jenson Button: “I’ll be a second-hand car salesman, then.”
Montoya: “Be washing cars or something.”
Button: “Exactly.”
Moderator: “Is that what you want to do?”
Button: “No, that’s what my old man was. No, it would have to be something pretty crazy, I think. I don’t know what.”
Montoya: “Stunt driver or something.”
Button: “Fighter pilot.”
Montoya: “Yeah, that would be cool.”
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Tickets: Tickets for the United States Grand Prix can be purchased online at indianapolismotorspeedway.com, or by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700 or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area. Parking and camping information also can be obtained through the ticket office.
