By pitpass.com
March 31 2003

One of Formula One's true 'nice guys' Heinz-Harald Frentzen, has spoken up in defence of BAR star Jacques Villeneuve, as the war of words between the 1997 champion and new team-mate subsides. Following the pit-stop debacle in Australia when Villeneuve pitted at the same time as his team-mate claiming that his radio wasn't working, British tabloid The Sun claimed to have been told by a 'source' that the Canadian had pulled a similar stunt on Frentzen when they were team-mates at Williams.

Thankfully the cat-fight seems to have died down a little since Malaysia, however Frentzen is keen to defend his former partner.

"I didn't have any trouble with him," says Heinz-Harald, "and if there were any mind games going on they went completely over my head.

"To try and spoil another driver's pit-stop would be very difficult," he adds, "as you do not know exactly when the other guy is supposed to come in. Jacques never tried anything like that with me and I wouldn't expect him to do it now. It had to be a mistake. If it was on purpose Jacques must have changed completely - and I cannot see that.

The German, who has driven for two teams that subsequently went down the pan - Prost and Arrows - is widely regarded as one of the nicest, most down-to-earth characters in the sport these days. Indeed former boss Sir Frank Williams believes it is the Sauber star's lack of aggression that has prevented him achieving more. In his pre-F1 days he was widely regarded as being a better driver than Sportscar team-mate Michael Schumacher.

Frentzen, of course, doesn't agree: "I can be ruthless on the track," he says. "But away from it, I'm not into trying to double-cross people or be nasty so it can further my career."

This article was written by pitpass.com and is used with permission.