28 years ago, Taki Inoue's coup, overthrown in Hungary

“The man who doesn't look in his mirrors. » This is how the journalist Jean-Louis Moncet described the Japanese Taki Inoue on TF1 during the 1995 Brazilian Grand Prix. The driver of the modest Arrows-Footwork with Hart V8 engine distinguished himself by blocking several times the Williams-Renault of Damon Hill and David Coulthard in practice, before spinning alone during the race at Interlagos.

The worst was to come for the Kobe native's self-esteem. In the streets of Monaco, during testing, he found himself upside down with the help of… Jean Ragnotti. In fact, the French rally driver, driving the safety car, hit his car at the end of qualifying while Taki Inoue was brought back to his pit by a tow truck. The Arrows rolls over but its pilot is unhurt.

Taki Inoue, whose full first name is Takachiho, has a bad relationship with the cars supposed to help athletes. In August 1995, he had to retire due to a mechanical breakdown during the Hungarian Grand Prix. On the Hungaroring turnstile, a fire broke out in the Arrows-Footwork. After asking for a fire extinguisher from a marshal located at the side of the track, the Nippon prepares to activate it on his mount, but does not see a Tatra 623 from the organization coming down on his left.

The sedan brakes too late, almost knocking over a marshal, but not the Japanese, hit in the left leg. “I landed on my feet, perfect landing, I think it deserved a 9.9 (in gymnastics),” he declared with irony to from Top Gear magazine in 2015. After a few steps, the injured man collapses on the grass, in a tragicomic sequence.

The torture does not end there for our man. The race is in full swing and there are insufficient medical resources to provide assistance on site. “I thought the circuit helicopter was going to take me to the hospital, but Charlie (Whiting, the Race Director. Ed.), comes to see me and says "Sorry Taki, we can't use the helicopter, otherwise it would mean stopping the Grand Prix (the helicopter must be available during the race. Editor's note). You'll have to wait an hour. »

definitely this is one of the best entertainment during the GP race.
But Safety because didn't deploy at all.
Basically they didn't care at all. pic.twitter.com/UfBBzu4uYV

— Taki Inoue (@takiinoue) September 12, 2021

So the unfortunate pilot takes his troubles patiently. The sight of the Budapest hospital relieves his leg pain, but another problem will arise. “The doctors immediately say to me: 'We want your credit card. » I replied: “Which credit card?” I do not have any ! I'm still in my racing suit! » But they didn't want to know anything, they wanted me to pay them first, otherwise they wouldn't help me. Another half hour is spent negotiating. For two years, they sent me the expense report to my house in Monaco! »

Recovered for the Belgian Grand Prix a few weeks later, Taki Inoue will retire from the stage F1 on yet another spin in the streets of Adelaide (Australia). In just 18 Grand Prix appearances, Taki Inoue has acquired legendary status... for his incompetence. Which the person concerned recognizes with a great sense of self-deprecation.

“I was always incredibly far from my teammate's pace (Gianni Morbidelli), between two and five seconds per lap, he recalled to Red Bull.com in 2013. I have never overtaken in the slightest F1 in my career. I am definitely one of the worst drivers in the history of F1. »

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