he failed to prequalify for two formula one grands prix with the troubled life project, a team that failed to prequalify for all 14 of its attempts during the 1990 season. brabham was the second-slowest prequalifier (leading only the coloni-subaru of bertrand gachot, who recorded a lap time of 5:15.010, but 30 seconds behind the eurobrun of claudio langes) at phoenix, and the engine gave up after only 400 m in brazil. one small plus of the car was that it was the sixth-fastest car in a straight line in untimed practice in brazil. after those two races, when clearly no improvement was forthcoming, brabham promptly quit the team in disgust. he had a small chance to join the brabham team at the time, but confusion over his life contract caused him to lose the seat to his brother david.