NELSON PIQUET CAN"T DRIVE
8/1/2007 8:18 PM
SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) - It seems you need more than three Formula One titles to be considered a good driver in Brazil.
Former race car driver Nelson Piquet — Formula One champion in 1981, '83 and '87 — is being forced to undergo an intensive driving course after losing his license because of an accumulation of speeding and parking tickets.
The 54-year-old Piquet and his wife, Viviane, both exceeded the limit of fines allowed by Brazilian law and must complete an eight-day, 30-hour intensive course in order to regain their driver's licenses.
"There are several different speeds in several different roads," Piquet told Globo TV. "Some are 80 kph (50 mph), some are 60 kph (37 mph), some are 50 kph (30 mph). Sometimes you don't pay attention and you break the speed limit — and you can lose your driver's license in a very fast way."
Piquet, whose 21-year-old son is a test driver for the Renault F1 team, is expected to finish his mandatory awareness course in Brasilia by the end of the week.
Despite the hassle, the former champion said the course is necessary.
"I have my driver's license for over 40 years and I have driven in several countries, but this thing that Brazil is doing, I believe it's the right thing."