[ATTACH]
Interesting reminder of Andretti’s Ferrari 82 pole. Images are copyrighted so just posting the link. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/the-ferrari-comeback-of-an-american-f1-icon/10428596/
I remember this from back in the day, was it 1968? Bobby Unser won the 500 but I couldn't figure out how he got a ride with BRM?
There should be a rule where two mechanics can stand between the wheels (one on each side) and another car drive by and not put the mechanics in danger by the car driving by.
I believe that was the first race for the 312T, and they were still working the bugs out. Of course, once they did, they were hard to beat.
What Aston Martin's first F1 car looked like in 1959-60. Sadly, by the time it appeared, front-engined cars were obsolete. Image Unavailable, Please Login
It's 1979 at Kyalami Ranch, South Africa. After a brief stoppage for a monumental deluge, Jody Scheckter leads his home Grand Prix. But he was a little rough on the tyres and had to pit. Gilles Villeneuve came through for the win and Scheckter managed a fine second place despite having to pit for a new set of Michelins. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thanks for posting that. I was there! As a USAF pilot on TDY in Madrid I took the train to Barcelona with my girlfriend (now my wife) for the weekend. I was not aware of all the drama that was taking place regarding circuit safety. The race almost didn't happen. A very short qualifying session and the reigning WC Emerson Fittipaldi chose not to take part in the race. Lauda was on pole but didn't finish the first lap. I did not learn until much later why the race was stopped. Several (4, I think) people were killed trackside when a car went over the guard rail. There were no debris fences to speak of back then and spectators were very close to the track, just behind the Armco barriers. Here are a few of my photos: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
It was my understanding that the spectators who were killed were actually in a forbidden area, and would probably have been fine if they hadn't been there. The car that went over the barrier was Rolf Stommelen's Hill.
I almost made the trip to attend the race, glad that I did not. I did make the next race at Monaco. Some guy from Wien won it.
I thought about going to Monaco too, but was running short of funds. This guy won, as you know. The only shot I got of Lauda (and his teammate) Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login , which was during qualifying. On the outside of a very fast turn, not the safest place to be.
To expand slightly: the day they arrived at the track, most drivers were threatening a strike when they discovered the dilapidated state of all the ARMCO barriers; for the qualifications, many team mechanics, even drivers, tried to put back the missing bolts, etc and make the track more safe. But Emerson Fittipaldi remained adamant that he would not race on the track as it was; if my memory serves me well, he had to do one lap per contractual obligation to the main sponsor, and that's what he did, then he quit... (1975 was a troubled season, as there was also Donohue's accident in Austria later in the season) Rgds
