Ferrari Mailing List: Bild / MSNBC - Schumacher to retire

[Dennis Liu (BigHeadDennis]

I'm kinda thinking that this is true - if he was going to announce he was
going to continue with Ferrari, why wait until after the race?  

Vty,

--Dennis

MSNBC.com 
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Schumacher reportedly to retire Sunday 
7-time Formula One champion could make announcement at Italian GP
MSNBC News Services

Updated: 11:26 a.m. ET Sept 6, 2006

Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher will announce his
retirement at the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday, the German newspaper Bild
reported. 

"We can't comment on everything. As we said, there will be more on Sunday,"
Schumacher spokeswoman Sabine Kehm told Bild. 

The possibility of Schumacher announcing his retirement hangs over Sunday's
Italian Grand Prix.

Even if Ferrari's seven times world champion wins at Monza and slashes
Fernando Alonso's overall lead to single figures with three races remaining,
all could be overshadowed by what happens afterwards.

With Germany's mass-circulation Bild flagging up Schumacher's impending
retirement on Wednesday, there is every reason to fear that the greatest and
most remarkable career in Formula One history is coming to an end.

If that proves to be the case, Monza will be Schumacher's European farewell
to the Ferrari faithful at the temple of Italian motor racing.

Ferrari, who are expected to sign Kimi Raikkonen from McLaren, have promised
an announcement after the race. Until then, they and the German are keeping
the secret to themselves.

"Of course I know that Ferrari's announcement is being eagerly awaited,"
said Schumacher on his Web site.

"We announced last week that it will be made on Sunday following the race
because we want to do our best in focusing on the race, and of course I'm
sticking to this agreement.

"So all I can do is ask everyone to understand that I don't want to touch on
that subject until next Sunday."

If the 37-year-old does announce he is leaving at the end of the season,
Monza would be a fitting place to salute his legions of fans and bask in
their warmth.

It was at the Milanese circuit, with Benetton in 1991, that the German
scored his first points in only his second grand prix.

"The first time I raced, I never had any idea that I would make it so far,"
he said in a 2003 biography penned by his spokeswoman Sabine Kehm.

"That was in Monza in 1991 when I drove further than 500 metres for the
first time (in a grand prix). I got into a wheel-to-wheel with the great
Ayrton Senna because he was having difficulties right at the beginning of
the race and I was able to chase and attack him.

"That was the moment I realised that we all only cook with water. If someone
is sitting in the right car at the right time, they can beat anyone. I
realised that then, and I still believe it today."

It was at Monza, in 2000, that he cried openly after equalling the late
Senna's 41 wins in a race that also saw a marshal fatally injured.

After finishing third in the previous Turkish Grand Prix won by team mate
Felipe Massa, Schumacher can hope to return to the top of the podium for the
90th time.

A Ferrari one-two led by Schumacher would cut world champion Alonso's lead
from 12 points to at least eight while the Italian team overturned their
two-point deficit to Renault in the constructors' standings.

"Our strategy has to be attacking," said Schumacher on his Web site. "We
have to close the gap and the only way to do that is by consistently putting
on the pressure and pushing hard.

"It's not the first time we've been in a situation like this and our
experience will be of help to us. I think our chances of turning the
championship around are very good," he added.

"Lots of things can still happen in the remaining four races. I think we
still have every reason to dream of winning both titles."

C 2006 MSNBC Interactive
URL: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14697145/