Dennis plays down Coulthard rift

(25-Jul-98) - McLaren boss Ron Dennis has played down talk that there could
be an internal rift within his team following David Coulthard's outburst at
the British Grand Prix over his choice of tyres.

Coulthard was left angry at Silverstone after being fitted with
intermediate tyres, while two laps later team-mate Mika Hakkinen was given
wets. Coulthard spun off a few laps later after a rain shower.

But just 24 hours after the race, Dennis revealed that Coulthard had
visited him at the Woking factory to apologise for what he had said.

"He came to see me on Monday and apologised," explained Dennis.
"He knew he had not had the opportunity of seeing the management of
the team after the race when people spoke to him and he talked in the heat
of the moment.

"We'd given him the benefit of the first stop and that was an
advantage. Every car, including the cars after David's at that stage, used
intermediates. But there was one lap when the heavens opened and we
switched for Mika.

"Of course after the race we were all seeing the stewards at the time
about the protests. David understood this and that is why he came to see
me. That is why he apologised, he's human."

--- Msged/386 4.20 beta 4