I can't believe the sad news from Toronto, Canada, yet. After I watched the tape delayed program of British Grand Prix, I followed the reports in this forum and learned the accident. Then I tried to follow up-date information, but Motor Sports Forum was so busy and went to down. After several trials to access to this forum, I learned the sad news.
I met Jeff Krosnoff first time in CompuServe Motor Sports Forum in 1988 when he was a guest for Conference after he returned from his All Japan F3000 debut race at Suzuka. He answered questions from members at home of Michael Hollander.
(18-5,Mitsuru/Tokyo)? (18-3,Jeff Krosnoff) Mitsuru ga. (18-5,Mitsuru/Tokyo) Hello Jeff. I'm connecting from Tokyo. I... (18-5,Mitsuru/Tokyo)covered your first F3000 race at Suzuka. ... (18-5,Mitsuru/Tokyo) Also I will cover your all of Japanese... (18-5,Mitsuru/Tokyo)racings next year. ... (18-5,Mitsuru/Tokyo) My question: How was your first Japanese (18-5,Mitsuru Sugaya)F3000 race? ga (18-3,Jeff Krosnoff) It was like getting thrown into the deep... (18-3,Jeff Krosnoff)end of the pool. It was a learning... (18-3,Jeff Krosnoff)experience, and every time I sat in the car... (18-3,Jeff Krosnoff)or went to the track, I learned something... (18-3,Jeff Krosnoff)new. I was a little bit conservative, ... (18-3,Jeff Krosnoff)because it was just a learning race for... (18-3,Jeff Krosnoff)me, and I tried to take everything step by... (18-3,Jeff Krosnoff)step to better learn so that I can come out... (18-3,Jeff Krosnoff)next year and start winning some races. So... (18-3,Jeff Krosnoff)overall, it went very well and my brain is... (18-3,Jeff Krosnoff)full of new and interesting knowledge. ga (18-5,Mitsuru/Tokyo) Thank you. ga
Mr.Keisuke Asai, Speedstar Racing Team's manager, found him in USA and brought him to Japanese top racing Formula 3000 as a team mate of Japanese veteran Masahiro Hasemi. Krosonoff lived in Yao City, Osaka where is team's base. He met Japanese Western cultures and enjoyed them, and reported it on the OnTrack magazine with his nice pictures.
Krosnoff left Speedstar and joined to Suntech Team with Italian Mauro Martini in 1990. He drove F3000 and Gr.A TWR Jaguar in All Japan Touring Car Championship series (JTCC) and Sports Prototype TWR Jaguar at Le Mans 24 Hours Race. Then he drove NA engine Sports prototype Jaguar at Sugo in All Japan Sports Prototype Championship (JSPC), too. While he drove Suntech cars, he lived in Kofu City, Yamanashi-Pref., north foot of Mt.Fuji. He enjoyed Japanese local life, too.
He spent two years in Suntech Team, he returned to Speedstar Team for F3000 and drove Sports Prototype car for Nissan as team mate of Masahiro Hasemi in 1992. He won the first round of JSPC at Suzuka. But he crashed and broke his leg at Fuji when he drove Nissan Sports Prototype car as test. He missed several races in 1992.
In 1994, he moved to 5-Zigen Team for F3000 and drove Toyota Supra GT car for Team Sard after Roland Ratzenberger moved to Formula One. 1994 Le Mans 24 Hour Race was his high light. He led the race with Toyota Sports Prototype car at 23 hours point of 24 hours race, but suddenly gear linkage was broken. He parked car and repaired by himself, then he brought the car to pit. While team crew rushed to repair it, their car dropped to third. Then Eddie Irvine took the car and passed one car and got second. Krosnoff's cool judgment and effort was impressed by Japanese fans who watched the one hour tape delayed TV program and maybe Toyota engineers. Then he drove F3000 for 5-Zigen and Toyota Supra for Team Sard again in 1995.
Krosnoff's best result was 2nd in seven years All Japan F3000 experience even though he couldn't get top class car in F3000. But his driving was very aggressive and impressed by Japanese fans, jurnalists and other drivers. And his warm and humorous characters were loved by Japanese fans, especially ladies. He was very kind for fans and brought American style fan service to Japan. When Eddie Irvine joined to Formula One, he recommended Krosnoff as next Formula One driver from Japanese F3000 in interview as well as Irvine, Johnny Herbert, Roland Ratzenberger and Mika Salo who graduated Japanese F3000.
He loved Japan and Japanese fans loved him. Many Japanese racing fans followed his racing after he left for IndyCar. They are looking forward to see him again at Twin Ring Motegi in 1998 if IndyCar race will be held.
Personally, after I met him in Japan after first chat in CompuServe Motor Sports Forum, we met many times at Suzuka, Fuji, hotel in Tokyo and Laguna Seca. When his father asked me how to use CompuServe in Japan for Jeff, I brought a MacCIM for his portable Mac. Then I sent results of his races in Japan to his wife, father and uncle via CompuServe until last year. One year, Also I drew a cartoon for his Christmas Card as a cartoonist. After 1992 Formula One Japanese Grand Prix finished, we enjoyed Karaoke songs at Suzuka with Jacques Villeneuve who drove Japanese F3, and other racing folks. I and Krosnoff played racing video games at Suzuka several times with European drivers. He was a fast in video game race, too.
In 1994, I started new career to write entertainment novels and wrote racing stories last year. When I had questions about driving the formula car, I asked him via CompuServe mail. He always answered quickly and helped me very well. When his new career for IndyCar was announced, he sent me the release via FAX. I was very glad and sent a "Kampai (Cheers in Japanese)" with a cup of beer from Tokyo to California. We exchanged many mails after he left for IndyCar, too. His last message was posted into Motor Sports Forum last week when one member asked about the difference between IndyCar and Formula Nippon car (ex.F3000.) He replied so quickly and explained it well.
Jeff Krosnoff loved Japanese TV animation the Speed Racer, too. He usually wore T-shirt of Speed Racer when he was driving in Japan and the name of his rock'n roll band was the Mach V, a vehicle's name of the Speed Racer.
My family, wife and two daughters, met him at Suzuka 1000km Race in 1993 and he cared well my daughters. My daughters were so shy at front of a cool and handsome American driver and couldn't talk with him. Especially my elder daughter remembers it well. So wife and daughters were so shocked, too. We pray his wife and family's peace from Japan, too.
Mitsuru Sugaya