FORMULA ONE BRAZILIAN GRAND PRIX: FELIPE MASSA has accused Eddie Jordan of now being a Formula One nobody. Massa has hit back at Jordan after the Irishman earlier this week urged Lewis Hamilton to fight fire with fire should the Brazilian resort to dirty tricks in Sunday's title showdown at Interlagos.
Jordan feels Hamilton needs to be on his guard, especially after what unfolded in an incident-packed race in Japan earlier this month when Massa ran into the side of the 23-year-old's McLaren.
Jordan, who ran his own team from 1991-2005, was quoted as saying: "People may not like me for saying this, but if Massa tries to take him out as he did in Japan in order to steal the title, then Lewis has to be ready for it. If he tries that on (in Brazil) then Lewis has to turn his wheel into Massa to ensure he does not finish the race either - he has to take his wheel off."
The remark has infuriated Massa, who is hoping to become Brazil's first Formula One world champion since the late Ayrton Senna in 1991.
Massa, who trails Hamilton by seven points going into the final race of the season on home soil, snapped back: "Since he sold his team, Eddie Jordan has had nothing to do with F1 except for what he says in the press."
Massa is determined to win fair and square, rather than resort to a win-at-all-costs attitude. "Playing dirty has never been part of my game," insisted the Ferrari star. "I don't want anything to do with it. The only thing on my mind is winning the race.
"The rest does not depend on me. If I'm champion, it will be a dream come true. If not, that's okay. I will try again next year."
Appreciably, the driver with the psychological edge is likely to take the crown, which has led to Hamilton and Massa playing mind games with one another.
Hamilton, who has to finish in the top five to become champion, feels the pressure is on Massa given the clamour for success he will face from his home crowd.
Massa, meanwhile, believes Hamilton has a few demons to face after last season's race in Sao Paulo when he lost the title by a point to Kimi Raikkonen.
"Lewis will try and put pressure on me, but I have zero pressure because I have nothing to lose," asserted Massa. "I have my people behind me, and all the pressure will be on him, especially when you think of what happened at this race last year. I now can't wait for this final Sunday of the season."
If Massa fails to win the battle of wills, he can always rely on his trusty underpants that have so far helped him to 14 career poles and 10 wins. "Who knows, maybe if I am champion it will be time to retire them," laughed Massa.
However, Massa was then asked whether he wore the same underpants for two days in a row - qualifying and race day.
"Do I wash them?" smiled Massa.
"Maybe I will ask you - have you never worn the same underpants two days in a row?" was the rhetorical reply.
