Il Profumo Dell'Asfalto

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Giancarlo has written a new book! It is called "Il Profumo Dell'Asfalto: La F1 come una romanza" (which means "The Smell of Asphalt: F1 is like a novel" in English). At the moment, I think it is only available in Italian. I will translate the write-up from one place that sells it so you can see what sort of book it is:

F1 is like a novel.

Hockenheimring, German GP 1997. For the first time I'm in the lead. I defend my position with all the tenacity that I have, but on the 39th lap, one of my tyres explodes and victory, which I already felt, fades. At the end of the race, Schumacher brought up his Ferrari and beckoned me to take me on the parade lap, and tell me, in his own way, that yes, I deserved to win. So for me, Formula 1 is this: beyond the technical action, there are ups and downs of emotions that project you to the top of the world at 300 kilometers per hour and then throw you onto the ground, there is the despair of Mansell that pushes his single-seater and faints a few meters from the finish line, there is the quarrel in the pits for a little space on the track and friendship when you least expect it. It's my idea of competition, epic and human alike, to which I wanted to dedicate this book: it is not strategy to make a perfect race, but overtaking that takes the breath away (such as the fabulous Häkkinen at Spa in 2000), The impossible feat, the most heated rivalries, which are those among team mates, as Alonso and Hamilton know well. I have thought back to the great racers who marked an era, like Senna and Michael, so brilliant on the track as they faceted out, in the background of the circus, especially during the visionary direction of Ecclestone, and the engineers who know how to calculate less the passion of us descending on the track. Because it's said that the scent of the asphalt, once you've heard it, is like a drug: you can no longer do without it and the adrenaline rush comes back every time you the last light turns off."

Preface by Alessandro Florenzi.

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Better still, it turns out that part of the proceeds of the book will support the Fondazione Telethon (link in Italian), which is a large Italian charitable initiative which aims to research cures for rare children's illnesses.

[Administrator]

Fisico did an interview for Romanews.eu that is partially about his new book. Translation follows:


Romanews Exclusive: Fisichella: "He has been exceptional. That's why I chose Florenzi for the foreword"
By Alessandro Tagliaboschi-
Thursday 15/11/2018-9:29

Exclusive Romanews: From the track to the bookstores. It is Giancarlo Fisichella's path, former Formula 1 driver currently in the Endurance World Championship, in bookshops from November 6 with "Il profumo dell’asfalto", written together with Carlo Baffi and with the preface by Alessandro Florenzi. A cross-section of the world's most important racing car championship, with stories of rivals and eras for fans of four wheels. Giancarlo Fisichella, at the microphone of Romanews.eu, wanted to explain his book, without forgetting to speak of his other great love: Roma, always his heart's team.

What prompted you to write a book that is not your own biography, but a story about Formula 1?

"I did not do an autobiography, true, but a story of some events that happened in Formula 1, also talking about such competitors as Schumacher, Senna, the 1930s drivers, Enzo Ferrari, a 360° story to make Formula 1 better-known and current for those who do not know it."

What do you miss most about Formula 1?

"I still do not regret it so much because I'm still running in the Endurance World Championship and for me it's a good time: from 2010, I'm doing this other category, as soon a I was done with Formula 1. F1 is like Serie A, it's the maximum for every driver. After giving the maximum for 14 years and 231 Grand Prix, it really begins to be tough after many years – I stopped at 37 – the commitments I had in F1 and on the track, were no longer a fun but quite hard and intense. Going to do these races is a lot more relaxing.

The pilot you'd compare yourself to now?

"I don't know, it's hard to say. Each one has its own character method, driving style, today there are really good riders and high level."

How did the idea of having the preface written to Florenzi begin?

"I've known him Alessandro for a few years, we have met a few times and I do not know why, I could ask many people, even Totti, but I see him as being like me, one who came from nothing, who grew up and arrived in Serie A to play with his heart's team. He immediately accepted, this made me very happy. Part of the proceeds will go to Telethon, Alessandro's testimony particularly kept [I'm not sure how to translate the last phrase]".

Fisichella, did you follow Roma while you were on the track?
"When we were racing and Roma was playing at the same time, I could not ask for the result on the radio, but as soon as I got out of the car I was informed immediately. Then if they played in the evening or at a time where I was free I never missed it."

A moment in your career linked to Roma?

"When I was doing a race at Zeltweg, which is near Kapfenberg where Roma was on retreat in the year of the Scudetto of Mister Capello and through Francesco Totti we knew one another, the whole team came to see qualifying and then, in the evening, I went to the retreat in return. It was a beautiful day, they had come mostly to be with me. A beautiful day, I was very happy. "

How do you judge the current Roma?

"As a football fan, I would say that last year's season was really more than positive. Francesco in his first year managed to bring the same Roma to remake the Champions and bring it to the semifinals of the European competition, beating Barcelona and bieng within a shred of the final. I'd say it was awesome. This year the team fluctuates a lot, in the Champions as well as last year, but in the league too many ups and downs: you are likely to win against Napoli, triumph in the Derby, but then lose with Spal, Equeggia with Chievo and this is not good. I hope that the game with Sampdoria has unlocked something, found the right way, because you have to recover the land in the league: we are not well placed to get to fourth place and then to the Champions League next year.

A regret of your F1 career? And a supporter of Roma?

"There are many regrets for mistakes and choices made, it is obvious that I would dream to become a world champion, I missed this, but I have been many years in Formula 1, I was a Ferrari pilot and still am in Endurance. I've never been one who looks back, it was what it was. For Roma, without a doubt the Champions on penalties, you came up to there in the final, the rigors and losing it in the house was hard. I was little, but it was hard."