Is Yuji Ide as appreciated as Giovanni Lavaggi a.k.a. Johnny Carwash? It’s the question i got asked by Fraze1976 on twitter recently. It took me a while to answer this question to myself. As Both Lavaggi and Ide have an interesting career in the Formula One. However, both were from a different era, a different century, a different millennium. It is hard to understand if one is more appreciated then the other one. All I can do is answer this question for myself and let you questioning the same question. As I believe it depends in what era you started watching Formula One or which era has your interest.
To answer the question if Ide is as much appreciated as Giovanni I don’t think he is. Well in my opinion the legacy that Lavaggi left for us is somehow more interesting then Ide did. The issue is that Lavaggi was active in an era when there were plenty of teams in the Formula One. His first taste with Formula One was with March in 1992. Back then, he was their “test driver” on paper. He did test the CG911B twice on Silverstone. Three years later, he would debut in the Formula One for Minardi. In 1996, he would again appear in the Minardi for the Final six races of the season.
He got appreciated for the legend status he more or less gave himself and we adapted afterwards. His way in the Formula One is that of the gentlemen in the 1960s. A bit similar to Huub Rothengatter perhaps. Hard working loans. Eventually, Lavaggi managed to enter the Formula One. He finished second in Le Mans 1992 with Manuel Reuter and John Nielsen. To eventually develop his own LMP1 car the Lavaggi LS1 that he entered as Scuderia Lavaggi. You won’t accomplish this if you don’t know what you’re doing.
On the other hand, while Yuji Ide did show his talent in other series, doesn’t really have that connection. Well i don’t feel it when I look at appearance in the Formula One. If you ask me tell about Ide I instantly remember that crash with Albers at Imola. It was also the last nail in Ide’s coffin regarding the Formula One. Proven to be far from competitive and understanding Formula One his Super License was revoked the 10th of May 2006. He didn’t had the spark or background so to say to become as appreciated as Lavaggi is.
Perhaps it is the difference in what and how they reached their results and standing during their career in the Formula One and outside. I would say Ide is not as appreciated as Lavaggi is.
