ED-CASE FEARS THE SACK

Eddie Irvine, Irish playboy racer, fears he could get the sack from Ferrari.

Irvine lines up on the grid for today's Argentine Grand Prix knowing his Grand Prix days could soon be over after a series of track blunders.

Ferrari are fast running out of excuses for Irvine, who has scored points in only one of his last 12 races. And his growing record of crashes is causing them increasing concern.

Just hours after his latest failure in the Brazilian Grand Prix a Ferrari insider told me: "Eddie will be lucky to finish the season here."

The source went on: "Eddie's never really been doing it for us. Look at the problems he had last year."

Irvine, a colourful and controversial figure, knows he could end up on the Grand Prix scrap-heap if released by racing's most famous team.

He has suffered too many crashes for his own good and was called an 'idiot' after putting Johnny Herbert and Jacques Villeneuve out of last month's Australian race following a first-corner collision. Villeneuve even told Irvine before the start of the Brazilian GP that someone could be killed if he didn't cool it on the track.

Irvine has made a disastrous start to the new season. He crashed out of the Australian GP at the first corner and in Brazil could only qualify 14th on the grid.

His race tactics were questioned again after a collision with Herbert at the aborted first start in Sao Paulo.

Irvine, using team-mate Michael Schumacher's spare car, could only finish 16th after suffering a painful pit-stop to change an ill- fitting seat strap between his legs.

One of Irvine's closest racing pals admitted to me in Interlagos: "This is a make-or-break season for Eddie. He knows his F1 career could be over if he doesn't do it for Ferrari."

Irvine arrived on the Grand Prix scene in sensational style when he made his debut for Jordan in 1993. He was an instant hit with sixth place in Japan but ended up having a punch-up with the late Ayrton Senna.

The following season the Irishman was banned for three races after taking the blame for a multiple pile-up in Brazil.

Irvine finished only six of the 16 scheduled races last season, scoring just 11 points in his first year with Ferrari.

Last season he had a valid complaint that Ferrari were throwing all their support behind double world champion Schumacher, who did all the testing and finished third in the championship with three wins.

This time Irvine has been given more support during the winter but still insists: "I'm not allowed to beat Michael...even if I could.

"It's difficult to get on the podium because the two Williams cars are above everyone else, so there is only one realistic place to go for. Obviously, Michael has the best chance for that because I can't beat him."

Irvine defended his driving style, telling me: "Criticism doesn't upset me, but you have to defend your corner. My friends worry that I get so much stick, but I don't give a damn.

"I suppose mud does stick, but so long as the people who pay my money stand by me, I will be okay."

How long Ferrari will stand by Irvine remains to be seen. They want results now - and no more controversy.

Irvine enjoys a playboy image but is equally at home playing his guitar or having a pint down the pub with his mates.

He once joked that his dream would be to win the World Championship before retiring to sail the world with two girls waiting in every port!

"I don't really look on myself as a playboy, but I am single and I can do what I want," says Irvine who, at 31, is already rich beyond his wildest dreams.

"I enjoy the better things in life and why not? It's my life..."

JACQUES Villeneuve and Heinz-Harald Frentzen will line up in an all-Williams front row for today's Argentinian Grand Prix. Eddie Irvine leads the British contingent after qualifying in seventh place ahead of Johnny Herbert (eighth), David Coulthard (10th) and Damon Hill 13th. Michael Schumacher starts fourth.

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