I'm no cheat, says Schumacher

   Copyright c 1998 Nando Media
   Copyright c 1998 Agence France-Presse

SILVERSTONE, England (Jul 11, 1998 - 11:39 EDT) - Former world champion
Michael Schumacher hit back at his critics and rival drivers on Saturday,
insisting he has never cheated during his controversial Formula One career.

The German insisted his two drivers' crowns had both been won fairly while
launching an attack on archrivals like Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve
for being jealous of his status as the world's greatest driver.

Schumacher, expected to sign for Ferrari for another two years in a deal
worth a staggering 50 million pounds ($85 million), spoke out as he
prepared to continue his bid for a third title at Sunday's British Grand
Prix.

The 29-year-old won his drivers' championships with Benetton in 1994 and
the following year amid rumors, never proven, that the team used some form
of illegal traction control to boost his performance during races.

Schumacher's ability to sustain a title assault with Ferrari in the last
couple of seasons despite having an inferior car on both occasions has also
raised eyebrows.

"I've not cheated -- neither in 1994 nor any other time. You simply
cannot do it, but it does upset me what is said," he said.

"There is simply too much money involved and there were too many big
groups behind us, first Ford in 1994 and now Ferrari. Imagine we were doing
something against the rules and if we were caught, the fuss that would
cause. People would never believe you any more."

Schumacher has also come under fire from his fellow drivers for a series of
incidents stretching back to last year's finale when he tried to force
Villeneuve off the track.

Fellow German Heinz-Harald Frentzen called for him to be kicked out of the
Grand Prix Drivers' Association after a spat in Canada, while both
Villeneuve and Hill have claimed Schumacher thinks he is above the sport.

But Schumacher is unrepentant and said: "They are just frustrated.
It's a particular group who are not very successful at the moment.

"Imagine you were world champion last year and then you struggle to
get into the points. Suddenly you make mistakes like Jacques has.

"People like Heinz-Harald and Jacques should be rather quiet when you
look back to Suzuka 1997 when they did something I would call even more
dangerous. They came out of the pits and almost pushed myself and Eddie
Irvine off the track. They have short memories. But people are just
jealous."

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