Eddie Irvine, US Grand Prix, 2002

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Influenced by his parents who are also involved in racing, Eddie Irivine's began his racing career in 1983. He stated Formula Three racing in 1988, before moving on to Formula 3000 in 1989. In 1990, he started racing for Jordan as a Japanese Formula 3000 driver. In 1993 he graduated to Formula One again racing for Jordan.

In 1996 Eddie moved to Ferrari later moving to help establish the Jaguar team in 2000.

Eddie Irvine was, especially in the early stages of his career, known to compete very fiercely. Even when he had a weaker car with which he only qualified for the rear of the grid, he had a tendency to "try and win a race at the start", causing him and others to leave it untimely.

He was also noted for his early personality that might be called anti-authoritarian. At his debut with Jordan in Suzuka 1993, Irvine, being a lap back, saw Ayrton Senna in the rear-view mirror. Of course he had to let him pass, firstly, because this was the common thing to do anyway, and secondly, and particularly, because the man behind was, after all, the great Senna. Irvine however refused to do just that. The result was that Senna walked into the Jordan motorhome after the race and punched Irvine.

Irvine is best remembered for his tendency to blatantly express his opinion and unabashedly irritate everyone more important than himself. (See his Wikiquote entry (http://wikiquote.org/wiki/Eddie_Irvine) for a few of his best quotes.)

His affinity to dangerous accidents declined when he changed to Ferrari. His non-conformist approach was generally appreciated as the Formula One world became more technical and the driver personalities less distinguishable. He was also notable as an unabashed playboy in the style of earlier drivers like James Hunt, in an era where the private lives of Formula One drivers became much more staid (or at least less blatant).

Eddie Irvine is a friend of the frontman of U2, Bono, and learned to play the guitar from him.

External links

• Irvine's Wikiquote page (http://wikiquote.org/wiki/Eddie_Irvine) - a few of his most famous quotes