Schumacher rides ‘prancing horse’ again

Michael suffered significant injuries to his shoulder and neck while racing a Honda motorcycle in February and while his neck in particular could take strain coping with the 4g forces generated by an F1 car.
Amazingly, he has retained a permanent physio since he retired at the end of 2006 and he has also continued to keep a very close eye on his dietary intake, although he has admitted to consuming a few more rum and cokes than was his wont!
Reading the plethora of internet blogs as well as the specialist UK press, it seems that Ferrari President, Luca de Montezemolo, made the approach to Schumacher to fill in for his unfortunate protege, Felipe Massa.
The Scuderia already has two seasoned test drivers in the shape of Gene and Badoer but one surmises that competent as they are, they would occupy the role of short term fillers only and offer no extra value to Ferrari. Schumacher by contrast, will bring unprecedented levels of publicity and a new sense of urgency to a team that has seemed a little rudderless since the great champion left.
Word has it that there’s already a new sense of purpose and urgency pervading the inner sanctum at Maranello although  Raikonnen has reacted in his usual vague manner, stating that he doesn’t care who his team mate
is! Regrettably, this lack of overt drive may have a fair bit to do with Ferrari’s  lacklustre showing this year.
As for whether Schumacher can resume station at the front of the field, even I have some doubt about. Other than a one day test last Friday in a cobbled-up 2007 GP Ferrari equipped with tyres from a different racing class, he hasn’t sat at the wheel since he tested a 2008 racer in April of that year.
 The 2009 car is a very different beast with totally different aero aids including a broader, adjustable
front wing allied to slick tyres and no traction control.  As I write this, word has reached me that Williams have reputedly vetoed a request by Ferrari to allow Michael a one-day test session in a 2009 configured GP car.
It seems all the other teams (confirmation was awaited from Force India) are very happy in the unusual cicumstances, to allow such a test which contravenes the new-for-2009 ban on all testing.
Whatever happens with the testing or lack thereof, Schumacher has certainly opened himself up to a potentially disastrous return to the domain he ruled so imperiously for so long.  Lance Armstrong, himself a returnee of note, has no doubts that the “greatest” (his words) will prevail and so does Nicky Lauda along with millions of F1 fans the world over.
The WWW han’t been so busy for years as fans endlessly discuss the most exciting piece of F1 news in years. TV viewership figures will make unprecedented gains, the stands at the circuits will fill to capacity and a sea of red will again dominate in all the spectator areas. 
People, this is BIG so if you’ve switched off from F1 in recent times, I suggest you make up for lost time when one of the greatest achievers in the history of sport takes to the track at the age of nearly 41 to take on hotshots, some of whom are young enough to be his sons.
For my part, my adrenalin is still running high as I extract for an airing, various examples of Schumacher memorabilia from the depths of my cupboards.
 And for any who might still harbour doubts about the extraorinary achievements of this mega performer, the listing of  Schumacher records appended herewith will provide a timely reminder:
Most world titles: 7 (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)
Most consecutive titles: 5 (2000-2004)
Most wins: 91 (One short of double the total of Prost and Senna combined)
Most wins in a single season: 13 (2004)
Most consecutive wins in single season: 7 (2004)
Most wins at the same race: 8 (French GP)
Most wins from pole: 40
Most wins with one team: 72
Most pole positions: 68
Most front-row starts: 114
Most second place finishes: 43
Most podium finishes: 153
Most championship points scored: 1 354
Most points in a single season: 148 (2004)
Most fastest laps: 75
Earliest title winner: 2002 (in July, with 6 races remaining)
Longest time with one team: 11 seasons (Ferrari – 1996-2006)
News snippets
Nissan chief, Carlos Ghosn, last week unveiled a new electric Nissan in New York.  The swoopy hatchback features four doors and the very odd name, Leaf.  I guess this is an example of turning over a new leaf as electric cars barely feature on the sales radar screen yet but are projected to account for 6 million units by 2020.  Nissan estimates the Leaf will attract around 200 000 new customers by 2012.
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Honda USA has recalled no fewer than 440 000 cars so as to investigate a potentially lethal fault in air bag systems which has apparently accounted for one fatality and a number of injuries.