My apologies; My response, while partly prompted by the unfortunate use of "enjoy" doesn't read as I intended. Again, sorry for my wording. I wasn't there, but, unfortunately, experienced a few "big ones" back in the day. Both from the pitlane & the stands. IME, even being right at the site as a fan you just don't know what's going on; The PA either goes quiet or the poor announcer just keeps ploughing on. A total lack of information (understandable I guess) results in wild rumors beginning almost instantly; "He's gonna be fine" all the way to to the other end of the spectrum will be heard in quick succession. If anything, it's even worse in the pits as "we're" supposed to know; The press is swarming, and want "something"..... Not a pleasant experience even if all does turn out well. From my recollections, reading etc, there already was a sense of "lets get this race done and we can all go home" on Sunday morning. Sid calls it a sense of foreboding. No doubt partly due to RR's death earlier, but it just wasn't "right" for some reason. That foreboding also has a way of making it out to the fans - Dunno how, but fans can "feel" it too. Only thing worse of course is fire; Doesn't matter where you are, you know something bad has happened and the smoke seems to like to just hang over the track like some sort af macabre reminder that motor racing is, indeed, dangerous. Cheers, Ian
To answer earlier posters, I was present at Imola that day. It is hard to separate in memory what was felt at the time from what was felt later and since then. I was not at the circuit on Friday for Rubens Barrachellos crash, but learned that he was OK after seeing the news when I returned to the hotel room. I was not at qualifying on Saturday either, but saw Roland Ratzenbergers crash on Italian TV that night. From that coverage it was clear that he was dead before the car came to a stop from a broken neck. Today, I find that video far more haunting than that of Sennas crash, as Senna appeared fine, whereas Ratzenberger did not even though the outcome was the same. Gerhard Berger was the stronger of the two Ferrari drivers during qualifying as Jean Alesi had been injured testing at Mugello and been replaced by Nicola Larini. As far as the race on Sunday, it was a beautiful bright sunny spring day. I was one row from the top, in the stand at the Variante Bassa overlooking the chicane and pit entry. The view was down the front straight away and the very beginning of Tamburello. The start was chaotic due to the crash of Pedro Lamy hitting the stalled JJ Lehto and sending a wheel and tire into the stands on the front straight on the left side. Debris was everywhere. Several laps were done behind the safety car and finally they got back to racing. Senna and Schumacher were very close through the chicane, with it looking like Schumacher was pressing Senna very hard. All of the cars were still reasonably bunched up from the restart. My first realization of what happened was from the large screen TV, followed by the display of the red flag. There was briefly a sense of annoyance that the race was going to be delayed again, followed by disbelief as the crash was replayed on the big screen. This was followed by some relief that Senna was seen moving his head in the car. I did not expect him to get out of the car, as I assumed that given the speed and angle of the crash that it was likely he would have lower leg injuries. Even when the helicopter landed and he was on the stretcher, the assumption in the stands was that he was likely injured, but the extent of injuries remained unknown. The rest of the race after the restart was somewhat confusing, as it was being scored on aggregate. The race was largely uneventful, except for a few lead changes due to pit stops and the wheel coming off of the Minardi in the pits and hitting several mechanics. This occurred pretty far down the pit lane and again was shown on the big screen through the RAI feed. The bright spot was Larini coming home second for Ferrari after Berger had retired relatively early. We all left the circuit in a mass of people through the tunnel under the front straight, still not knowing Ayrton Sennas condition as no information had been provided to the spectators in attendance other than that he was in hospital. It was not until later that it was announced that he had been killed and then it was the only thing on the TV for the rest of the night and on through the next several days. Looking back, it was a staggering series of tragic events that were somewhat unconnected at the time. It was a shocking weekend in hindsight and changed auto racing a great deal.
I have been thinng out my racing collectibles, now done to virtually nothing. I have this one Senna collectible left out of the original 35+ pieces. It is a copy of the French magazine Sport Auto, May 1995. Inside on page 51 is a page promoting "trading cards", this unopened still attached set is of Senna. If interested PM me. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
there's a show called "grand prix- the killer years" makes ayrton time look super safe. while he was an incredible driver the tragedy of his death is what makes people really worship him. just my opinion
Thank you for your perspective. It must have been hard to believe to hear the news later. I've often felt disconnected from what's going on at racing events, which is ironic when you think about it since you are actually there. Sometimes it is difficult to tell what's going on since you only have the perspective from your seat and a lack of commentating. Being at Indy 2005 was an extreme example of this, the utter element of disbelief coupled with the chaos/confusion in the stands was certainly a unique experience. It's also strange how some horrific crashes can result in a driver being merely injured or even walking away while some "mundane" looking crashes can result in a fatality. For example, while watching Canada 2007 I thought Kubica was dead for sure whereas Dale Earnhart Sr's crash at Daytona in 2001 looked "routine." Even Senna's crash doesn't look all that bad to me, sure it was high speed but Berger had sustained a similar shunt in a prior year and walked away. RIP Ayrton and Roland
+1 I have long given up trying to figure out what's happening in the race while attending it. Occasionally I see some positions on the jumbotrons, but I really don't care. If you want to follow the race, watch it at home on TV. If you want to take the atmosphere in and shoot pictures, go to the event.
While the 1960s and 1970 were extremely dangerous I do not think that diminishes Senna's talent. Guys like Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost, Fernando Alonso, Mika Hakkinen, Lewis Hamilton, James Hunt, Niki Lauda and Ron Dennis rated him as the best or in the top 2 (in the case of Prost, who did believe Senna was quicker than he was). I think this group has a fair amount of credibility. I admit that dying at the peak of his career while leading a race is part of the legend, there was quite a legacy that existed prior to May 1, 1994. If you has the opportunity to watch race during his career, it was readily apparent he was very special.
Ney - thank you for that recap. I've had the misfortune to be at the glen when JD mcduffie was killed and toronto in 96 when Jeff krosnoff died. Mcduffie's crash they made an announcement; very eerie and sad the rest of the race. Krosnoffs was bad, but near the end of the race so we didn't hear anything until the ride home. Hate when any driver loses his life. Kevin
Let's not forget the fifties. They made the seventies look like a walk in the park. I had the great pleasure of watching him catch Alain Prost in the rain at Monaco. Nothing special one might think, except that Ayrton sat in a Toleman (while Prost sat in the best car of the grid). Here one of the shots I'm truly grateful to have taken of him during qualifying: Image Unavailable, Please Login
+3 I was fortunate enough to see him in Montreal in 1992 take pole and lead Mansell in the all conquering Williams that was supposed to be 2 seconds a lap faster than any other car in the field (unless that car was driven by Senna), yes he really was that great, it was amazing to watch first hand.
+4 Watched in Phoenix 1991, he lead every lap. BUT....that wasnt the amazing part.The Phoenix street course was bumpy, I was watching next to the fence, in the middle the last corner b4 the front straight, a double apex left turn,not very fast,but like i said bumpy. Every car would slide over the bumps.Prost,Mansell, Berger all sliding sometimes a little,sometimes a lot. Every lap a little bit different. But Senna slid the EXACT same amount every lap, each lap a mirror of the previous ones. In a way boring and repetitve, but amazing that he was that precise driving a 750hp missile around bumpy street corner.
Again, unless you saw him, you can't (don't?) understand. Jimmy was the only other guy that made our mouthes drop...... Cheers, Ian
I did at Monaco (and later in Montreal), but I also saw Bellof in that same race nearly catching Senna in the only (IIRC) non Turbo car left of the field. And that's why I hold Bellof in the same highest of memories, yet his time was even shorter. He would have been the first "MS" before there was MS in F1.
I might be opening a can of worms, but... He was *that* good, but I agree, I don't think he would be rated quite as high as he is had he not died. When superstars die young they achieve mythical status, that is a fact.
But how many titles would Senna have won with Williams? D Hill [HILL!!] nearly won the title in '94. Hill in '96, JV in '97....i dont think its to much of a stretch to say Senna captures at least 2 more titles between 94-96. Long live the legand!! Besides, Clark "only" had two titles, but is still ranked as one of the best ever.
I think his humanity, character and three world championships has a lot to do with that status. A young superstar without the 3 world championships and personality would not have reached the same legendary status. It took a lot for me, someone who has been extremely critical of Senna in the past, to admit to being wrong about Senna. He was simply put.... Brilliant!
I saw him 'live' in Montreal in 84, 85, 86, and 88. All 3 days and both sessions every year including rain in a qualifying session in 86. I also saw all other races of his F1 career on the TV coverage of the time including his death live. He was one of the best, no doubt, but in the dry Prost, Piquet, and Mansell were equally as good with Schumacher a half step back. It was the rain where he could be called the best alone. I was able to take many pics of him from all different locations of the track, because you could go just about anywhere you wanted back then. Some of my clearest memories in life are from those Montreal races probably because they are so sense intensive - sight -( Mclaren international orange that is like a flourescent pink in person), sound -(1300hp turbo's backfire on shift), and even smells -(the hi-tech exhaust fumes from the special fuels used). The beautiful summer morning in 86 watching Senna in the JPS and all the others come down the short straight into the turn in front of the grandstand. And 1988, standing at the apex of the 1st turn after the hairpin watching Prost and Senna go by a few feet apart in identical Mclarens from 20 feet away looking down into the cockpits as their brake discs glowed. Also seeing Derk Warwick fly overhead backwards and riding in the elevator with Nigel and his wife saturday evening. Lots of great memories, so glad I took those trips.
