Villeneuve vs. Pironi question

Peter:

The agreement as I have always understood it was that whom ever led at the first corner would win the race. This was GV and he led for the initial laps. DP then picked up the pace and started to pressure GV who let him by assuming that he would get back by at the end in accordence with the agreement. At the end that did not happen and the podium picture showed how disillusioned GV was while DP celebrated. It became a matter of pride for GV to show that he was the faster driver. At Zolder, DP had set fast time, so GV went out to beat his time with tragic results.

 

Original story appears to be confirmed in Motor Sport (UK) May 2007

 

Yep, and if DP had abided by that agreement maybe GV wouldn't have gone out again at Zolder-but we'll never know 100%. A big part of F1 died for me that day.

 

True.

Wasn't this also the race where only 6 cars participated? Ferrari, Renault and Alfa. Or am I mixing up history here?

 

My understanding is that Pironi stole the victory from Gilles and knew he could get away with it as he was favoured by the Ferrari hierarchy. Found a few bits online:

 

You're nearly there:

 

12 Cars started, the Ferrari's were questionable about Fuel. Pironi duped him, GV should have won that race, or they both should have run out of fuel.

 

Oh, thanks. Makes me wonder who the other teams were apart from the factory teams?

 

It is my undertstanding (and I have read the Motorsport article amongst other things) that there was an agreement between the Renault and Ferrari drivers that they would put on a bit of a show to start with (because of the FOCA boycott). When Arnoux and Prost went out Ferrari then put out the "Slow" sign. Villeneuve interpreted this to mean 'hold station and slow down' (Villeneuve being in front at this point). Pironi intrepreted it (so he said subsequently) to mean 'slow down a bit but you can keep fighting for the win'. I have always been of the opinion that there is little doubt that Pironi took the win knowing that he shouldn't have done so. Whether he anticipated that it would be a psychological blow against Gilles, I don't know, but surely no-one could have predicted what would follow a fortnight later.

Jonathan

 

Pironi's "steal" basically ruined the athmosphere in the team. Once Gilles was gone, Pironi started to dedicate every victory etc to Gilles' memory. People got really tired of his late "remorse". Well, that lasted until Hockenheim. After the practice there Enzo allegedly said "Ciao Mondiale" knowing that it was now just a pipe dream.

About the only good thing that came from it was to see "our" Mario in a Ferrari again.

 

and I was there at Monza to see our man Mario grab pole and finish third; would have won if he didn't have a troublesome turbo (DAMN!)...the scuderia's future driver won the race (Arnoux) with Tambay second.....

 

Exactly. Actually I think Mario botched the start or else he would have won. Pironi always was a bit of a strange guy anyway.

 

I hate team orders, but this race was hardly a race, more a demonstration and what Pironi did was completely and utterly wrong.

He needed to be infront before the slow orders ... shame on him.

I'd be just as pissed as GV was ...
Pete

 

+1