October 2, 1949
1949 Lee Petty Plymouth Deluxe 1:24 Scale Die Cast
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1949 Lee Petty Plymouth Deluxe 1:24 Scale Die Cast
1949 Lee Petty Plymouth Deluxe 1:24 Scale Die Cast
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Lee Petty Wins His First NASCAR Race - October 2, 1949
1949 Lee Petty Plymouth Deluxe 1:24 Scale Die Cast
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Max Papis Born In Como, Italy - October 3, 1969
October 3, 1969
Max Papis
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(Photo: jerbec via photopin cc)
Born in Como, Italy.
A veteran of NASCAR, Formula One, Champ Car, Sportcar, Le Mans and Daytona 24 Hours.
Max Papis was raised in Italy and got an interest in car racing at a young age, winning several go-kart races and several rounds for racing clubs in Italy. After a spell as the Lotus team's test driver in 1994, Papis replaced Gianni Morbidelli in the Footwork team for seven races in the middle of the 1995 Formula One season, as he brought valuable sponsorship to the cash-strapped outfit. Despite being a race-winner in Formula 3000, he often struggled with the unfamiliar car, and was occasionally outpaced by his much-maligned team-mate, Taki Inoue. When Morbidelli returned, Papis was out of a drive and headed to America for 1996.
Papis earned the nickname "Mad Max" at the 1996 24 Hours of Daytona during his last stint at the end of the race. Although his second-place Ferrari 333SP had been battered due to collisions, some of its bodywork held together by tape, Papis unlapped himself by passing the race leader (the Doyle Racing Riley & Scott-Oldsmobile driven by Wayne Taylor) and proceeded to set some of the fastest laps of the entire race. Taylor was nursing his car around the track due to an overheating problem and otherwise would have been able to cruise to a win, but Papis' pace and the slowing Oldsmobile suggested that Papis could theoretically take the win from him. Papis' speed was achieved at the cost of maximum fuel consumption and although he drove down the pit lane at full speed to re-fuel (pit lane speed limits were imposed the next year), Taylor was still ahead by 64 seconds at the end of the race.
He moved to CART Champ Car racing in 1996 as a replacement for Jeff Krosnoff who was killed in the race in Toronto. He has three Champ Car victories.
Papis made his NASCAR debut in August 2006, going on to a total of 50 Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series races.
Papis is married to Tatiana, daughter of the racing legend Emerson Fittipaldi, and has two kids Marco and Matteo Papis. His sons godfather is fellow Italian Alex Zanardi.
Born in Como, Italy.
A veteran of NASCAR, Formula One, Champ Car, Sportcar, Le Mans and Daytona 24 Hours.
Max Papis was raised in Italy and got an interest in car racing at a young age, winning several go-kart races and several rounds for racing clubs in Italy. After a spell as the Lotus team's test driver in 1994, Papis replaced Gianni Morbidelli in the Footwork team for seven races in the middle of the 1995 Formula One season, as he brought valuable sponsorship to the cash-strapped outfit. Despite being a race-winner in Formula 3000, he often struggled with the unfamiliar car, and was occasionally outpaced by his much-maligned team-mate, Taki Inoue. When Morbidelli returned, Papis was out of a drive and headed to America for 1996.
Papis earned the nickname "Mad Max" at the 1996 24 Hours of Daytona during his last stint at the end of the race. Although his second-place Ferrari 333SP had been battered due to collisions, some of its bodywork held together by tape, Papis unlapped himself by passing the race leader (the Doyle Racing Riley & Scott-Oldsmobile driven by Wayne Taylor) and proceeded to set some of the fastest laps of the entire race. Taylor was nursing his car around the track due to an overheating problem and otherwise would have been able to cruise to a win, but Papis' pace and the slowing Oldsmobile suggested that Papis could theoretically take the win from him. Papis' speed was achieved at the cost of maximum fuel consumption and although he drove down the pit lane at full speed to re-fuel (pit lane speed limits were imposed the next year), Taylor was still ahead by 64 seconds at the end of the race.
He moved to CART Champ Car racing in 1996 as a replacement for Jeff Krosnoff who was killed in the race in Toronto. He has three Champ Car victories.
Papis made his NASCAR debut in August 2006, going on to a total of 50 Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series races.
Papis is married to Tatiana, daughter of the racing legend Emerson Fittipaldi, and has two kids Marco and Matteo Papis. His sons godfather is fellow Italian Alex Zanardi.
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James Hunt Wins "Canadian Grand Prix" at Mosport - October 3, 1976
October 3, 1976
(Photo: Serbian car fans via photopin cc)
James Hunt wins the Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport, Ontario, Canada, in a McLaren M23.
At this weekend, British championship contender James Hunt found out that he lost 9 points from his victory at the British Grand Prix earlier that year, and championship leader Niki Lauda gained another 3 points (he finished 2nd at that race). Hunt won the Mosport event, but it made no difference to his championship points standings before the race. Patrick Depailler of France was third in a Tyrrell-Ford and American Mario Andretti topped off the podium in a Lotus-Ford.
Hunt won the next race in the US but Lauda took third to lead Hunt by three points going into the final race in Japan. In appalling weather conditions Mario Andretti won, Lauda gave up because of the hazardous conditions, and Hunt eventually finished third to take the title.
The movie Rush, a 2013 British-German biographical sports drama film, centered on the rivalry between Hunt and Niki Lauda, during the 1976 Formula One motor-racing season.
In the book, James Hunt: The Biography, Niki Lauda stated that "We were big rivals, especially at the end of the season, but I respected him, because you could drive next to him, 2 centimeters, wheel-by-wheel, for 300 kilometers or more, and nothing would happen.
He was a real top driver at the time."
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Legendary NASCAR Team Owner Robert Yates Dies At 74 - October 2, 2017
April 19, 1943 - October 2, 2017
Robert Yates
(Photo;foxsports.com)
Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
He was a NASCAR engine builder and former owner of the Sprint Cup Series team Yates Racing, owned since 2007 by his son Doug. The son of Rev. John Clyde Yates, he grew up as one of nine children in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has a twin brother, Richard. As a youth, he raced his own dragster in the late 1950s. In 1964, Yates graduated from Wilson Technical College in North Carolina, earning a degree in mechanical engineering.
He purchased the team from Harry Ranier in 1988, with driver Davey Allison. The team finished second in its first race, the 1988 Daytona 500, being edged by Allison's father and NASCAR legend Bobby Allison.
In 1991, Larry McReynolds joined the team as crew chief and led Allison to five victories. In 1992 the Yates Racing started the season with a bang with Allison winning the Daytona 500, joining his father Bobby a three time Daytona 500 winner. The win also put the Allisons in an exclusive club, joining Lee and Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr as the only father/son winners of the Daytona 500.
In 1991, Larry McReynolds joined the team as crew chief and led Allison to five victories. In 1992 the Yates Racing started the season with a bang with Allison winning the Daytona 500, joining his father Bobby a three time Daytona 500 winner. The win also put the Allisons in an exclusive club, joining Lee and Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr as the only father/son winners of the Daytona 500.
In 1992 Allison again had another dominant year winning five races again, despite a broken hand suffered at Pocono in June and a cracked rib. Allison also experienced a personal tragedy in August when his brother Clifford was killed in the Busch Series race at Michigan International Speedway. Going into the last race at Atlanta all Allison had to do was finish sixth or better to clinch the Winston Cup title, but a collision with Ernie Irvan on the 251st lap damaged Allison's car and knocked him from contention. Allison completed 34 more laps and was running at the finish. With Allison eliminated from title contention it was down to a two-man race between Bill Elliott and Alan Kulwicki, Elliott won the race, but Kulwicki led one more lap than Elliott to win the title by ten points. Allison would finish third in the final points standings.
In 1993 the team struggled, although Allison did win the Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond in March. They then experienced tragedy as Allison was killed in a helicopter crash in July. Ernie Irvan, who was driving for Morgan-McClure Motorsports, wanted to replace his friend and after several weeks Yates was able to bring him aboard. With Irvan behind the wheel the team won at Martinsville in a car set up by Allison, the team also won at Charlotte in the Mello Yello 500 when Irvan led all but six of the race's 334 laps.
In 1994 the team got off to a fast start with Irvan finishing second to Sterling Marlin at the Daytona 500, two weeks later Irvan won at Richmond just like Allison did the year before, Irvan would follow that win up a week later by winning the Puralator 500 at Atlanta. In May 1994 the team won at Sonoma, California. In August Irvan came within ten laps of winning the Inaugural Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis, before cutting a tire and handing the race to Jeff Gordon. Irvan was in contention for the Winston Cup title before he was critically injured in practice crash at Michigan a week later. Kenny Wallace finished out the year in the No. 28 Ford Thunderbird.
In 1995 with the team in need of a full-time replacement while Irvan was sidelined, Yates brought Dale Jarrett from Joe Gibbs Racing to drive the #28. Jarrett won at Pocono in July. In October Irvan returned to the track driving a second Yates car No. 88 in a race at North Wilkesboro, N.C. Irvan led six laps and finished sixth.
In 1996 Yates expanded to two full-time teams with Irvan back behind the wheel of the No. 28 Ford and Dale Jarrett driving the No. 88 car. The new team wasted no time showing its muscle with Jarrett, under the leadership of rookie crewchief Todd Parrott won the Busch Clash at Daytona and the Daytona 500. Irvan secured the outside pole for the Daytona 500 alongside Dale Earnhardt Sr. who was in his eighteenth attempt to win the Daytona 500. Irvan also won his Gatorade Twin 125 Qualifying Race. Jarrett also won the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte and the Brickyard 400 and at Michigan in August and finished third in the final Winston Cup points standings behind Hendrick Motorsports teammates Terry Labonte and Jeff Gordon.
Yates was given his first championship as a NASCAR owner in 1999 with Dale Jarrett. His engines had won championships with him as an engine builder before, notably 1983 with Bobby Allison and DiGard Motorsports, and also with Darrell Waltrip.
After that season the team began to slump a little. Eddie D'Hondt joined the team as Manager after leaving Evernham Motorsports and the team seemed to be heading in the right direction with the hiring of Mike Ford. Ford hired several key members including Russ Salerno, as his Pit Crew Coordinator.
Shortly after that RYR found itself with a team that was improving and becoming a contender again. Elliott Sadler joined Robert Yates Racing for the 2003 season and won two races for Yates in 2004. As of July 2007, Yates' last win was with Dale Jarrett at Talladega Superspeedway in October 2005. Yates retired as a NASCAR Sprint Cup Team Owner after 2007, giving Yates Racing to his son, Doug. In 2010 he came out of retirement to form a new company, Robert Yates Racing Engines, with his son-in-law Chris Davy as his partner.
On May 24, 2017, Yates was voted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame's Class of 2018.
Since November 2016, Yates has been undergoing treatment for liver cancer. Yates said he was told by a doctor in early August to gather his family and make plans for hospice because “you’re done in four weeks.” Four hours later, Yates’ future looked much better. Another doctor told Yates, who is battling liver cancer, that the terminal diagnosis was wrong. “I need both doctors, but I need a little cheerleading, too,’’ said the 74-year-old. On October 2, 2017, Yates died due to liver cancer.
(Photo;nascar.nbcsports.com)
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Gaston Chevrolet Born In Beaune, Côte-d'Or, France - October 4, 1892
October 4, 1892 - November 25, 1920
Gaston Chevrolet
Gaston Chevrolet
Born in Beaune, Côte-d'Or, France.
He was the younger brother of Louis, founder of the Chevrolet car company and Arthur Chevrolet. After brother Louis emigrated to the United States and earned enough money, he sent for Gaston and Arthur to join him. Once there, Gaston worked as an automotive mechanic and joined his brothers in auto racing.
In 1916, the year after older brother Louis left the Chevrolet car company, Gaston Chevrolet became a partner with Louis and Arthur in the new Frontenac Motor Corporation. Driving a Frontenac race car, Chevrolet competed in the 1919 Indianapolis 500, finishing in tenth place while brother Louis finished seventh.
Gaston Chevrolet broke the dominance of European built cars in the Indianapolis 500, winning the race in a redesigned Monroe-Frontenac on May 31, 1920. In the process, he became the first driver in the history of the 500-mile race to go the distance without making a tire change.
Gaston Chevrolet (Louis to the left) in the Frontenac powered Monroe Indy 500 winner 1920
Following his victory at Indianapolis, Chevrolet raced in several more events. He won a 100-mile match race against top racers Tommy Milton, ironically driving a Chevrolet race car and Ralph Mulford.
With the coming of winter in late 1920, racing moved to the West Coast. While competing in the last race of the season on the board track at the Beverly Hills Speedway, Chevrolet was killed when his Frontenac crashed on lap 146 of the 200 lap race. Chevrolet was trying to pass Joe Thomas, who was driving the inside, when his car struck Eddie O’Donnell’s, driving the outside. O’Donnell’s car fell down the ramp, and Chevrolet’s went upward, tore out some fence and then fell back, right on top of the wreckage of O’Donnell’s car. The crash killed Chevrolet, O’Donnell and Lyall Jolls, O’Donnell’s riding mechanic. Chevrolet’s mechanic (or mechanician, in The New York Times language of the day), John Bresnahan, suffered serious injuries. Despite the crash, Chevrolet had accumulated enough points during the race and through the season to win the 1920 title of "Speed King of the Year" (the AAA National Champion). Chevrolet is considered by accredited historians and contemporary accounts as the true 1920 National Champion despite later revisionist publications retrospectively listing Tommy Milton as such.
Chevrolet is interred next to his brothers in the Holy Cross and Saint Joseph Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The Official Indianapolis 500 Trivia Book
How Much Do You Really Know About the Indianapolis 500?
Test your knowledge while educating yourself on the greatest automobile race in the world. For nearly 100 years, the greatest spectacle in racing plays out each May in Indianapolis. The entire scope of the Indianapolis 500 is presented in this fun test: drivers, track information, teams, race information, cars, rules, records, and so on. Grade your knowledge on the Indy 500 scale. The answers are provided in the back of the book.
Click here to buy this item?
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Denis Hulme Dies During Bathurst 1000 - October 4, 1992
June 18, 1936 - October 4, 1992
Denis Hulme
Denis Hulme
Born in Motueka, New Zealand.
Hulme was nicknamed 'The Bear', because of his gruff nature and rugged features. He won the 1967 Formula One World Drivers' Championship for the Brabham team. Between his debut at Monaco in 1965 and his final race in the 1974 US Grand Prix, he started 112 Grand Prix, resulting eight victories and 33 trips to the podium. He also finished third in the overall standing in 1968 and 1972.
Hulme showed versatility by dominating the Canadian-American Challenge Cup (Can-Am) for Group 7 sports cars. As a member of the McLaren team that won five straight titles between 1967 and 1971, he won the individual drivers’ championship twice and runner-up on four other occasions.
Following his Formula One tenure with Brabham, Hulme raced for McLaren in multiple formats, Formula One, Can-Am, and at the Indianapolis 500. Hulme retired from Formula One at the end of the 1974 season but continued to race Australian Touring Cars.
During his career, Hulme drove the most powerful cars of his era. He raced in F1, F2, Indycars, Saloon/Touring Cars, CanAm and endurance races, all during the same season. After retiring from F1, he even drove in truck races.
A favourite event of Hulme's was the Bathurst 1000, held at the famous Mount Panorama track in Australia. In the 1992 event he was driving a semi-works supported BMW M3 for the Benson & Hedges Racing when after complaining over the car-to-pits radio of blurred vision, originally thought to be because of the heavy rain, Hulme suffered a massive heart attack at the wheel while driving along the high-speed Conrod Straight. After veering into the wall on the left side of the track at about 140 mph, he managed to bring the car to a relatively controlled stop sliding against the safety railing and concrete wall on the right side of the track. When marshals reached the scene they found Hulme still strapped in. He was taken from the car straight to Bathurst Hospital where he was officially pronounced dead.
Hulme was named New Zealand Sportsman of the Year in 1967, the 1967/1970/1974, winner of the Hawthorn Memorial Trophy, inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1993, the New Zealand Motorsports Wall of Fame in 1994, the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1998 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2002.
Hulme was nicknamed 'The Bear', because of his gruff nature and rugged features. He won the 1967 Formula One World Drivers' Championship for the Brabham team. Between his debut at Monaco in 1965 and his final race in the 1974 US Grand Prix, he started 112 Grand Prix, resulting eight victories and 33 trips to the podium. He also finished third in the overall standing in 1968 and 1972.
Hulme showed versatility by dominating the Canadian-American Challenge Cup (Can-Am) for Group 7 sports cars. As a member of the McLaren team that won five straight titles between 1967 and 1971, he won the individual drivers’ championship twice and runner-up on four other occasions.
Following his Formula One tenure with Brabham, Hulme raced for McLaren in multiple formats, Formula One, Can-Am, and at the Indianapolis 500. Hulme retired from Formula One at the end of the 1974 season but continued to race Australian Touring Cars.
During his career, Hulme drove the most powerful cars of his era. He raced in F1, F2, Indycars, Saloon/Touring Cars, CanAm and endurance races, all during the same season. After retiring from F1, he even drove in truck races.
A favourite event of Hulme's was the Bathurst 1000, held at the famous Mount Panorama track in Australia. In the 1992 event he was driving a semi-works supported BMW M3 for the Benson & Hedges Racing when after complaining over the car-to-pits radio of blurred vision, originally thought to be because of the heavy rain, Hulme suffered a massive heart attack at the wheel while driving along the high-speed Conrod Straight. After veering into the wall on the left side of the track at about 140 mph, he managed to bring the car to a relatively controlled stop sliding against the safety railing and concrete wall on the right side of the track. When marshals reached the scene they found Hulme still strapped in. He was taken from the car straight to Bathurst Hospital where he was officially pronounced dead.
Hulme was named New Zealand Sportsman of the Year in 1967, the 1967/1970/1974, winner of the Hawthorn Memorial Trophy, inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1993, the New Zealand Motorsports Wall of Fame in 1994, the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1998 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2002.
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Sarah Fisher Born In Columbus, Ohio, USA - October 4, 1980
Sarah Fisher
(photo credit: insidetherace via photopin cc)
Born in Columbus, Ohio, USA.
As a child, she raced quarter midgets and karts until she was a teenager, winning the 1991, 1993 & 1994 World Karting Association Grand National Championships, the 1993 Circleville Points Championship and the 1994 WKA Grand National Championship. From 1995–99, she raced in the sprint car and midget ranks, winning the 1995 Dirt Track Racing Round-Up Rookie of the Year award. She had a very successful career racing in the World of Outlaws. In 1997, she was named to the 62-race All-Stars Circuit of Champions series, earning a second-place finish at Eldora Speedway. She held the track record at historic Winchester Speedway until it was broken by current NASCAR driver, Ryan Newman.
In 2000, Fisher and her father and then-crew chief, Dave Fisher, sought new challenges in the world of asphalt racing. She raced in ARCA, NAMARS and USAC sanctioned events, a competitive schedule that helped prepare her for life in the IRL
Sarah currently runs Sarah Fisher Racing, which she started in 2008, becoming the first and only female team owner and the youngest owner in the IZOD IndyCar Series, as well as the first female team owner to win an IZOD IndyCar Series race. In 2010, she competed in her ninth and final Indy 500, marking the most number of starts for a woman in the 94-year history of the event.
As a child, she raced quarter midgets and karts until she was a teenager, winning the 1991, 1993 & 1994 World Karting Association Grand National Championships, the 1993 Circleville Points Championship and the 1994 WKA Grand National Championship. From 1995–99, she raced in the sprint car and midget ranks, winning the 1995 Dirt Track Racing Round-Up Rookie of the Year award. She had a very successful career racing in the World of Outlaws. In 1997, she was named to the 62-race All-Stars Circuit of Champions series, earning a second-place finish at Eldora Speedway. She held the track record at historic Winchester Speedway until it was broken by current NASCAR driver, Ryan Newman.
In 2000, Fisher and her father and then-crew chief, Dave Fisher, sought new challenges in the world of asphalt racing. She raced in ARCA, NAMARS and USAC sanctioned events, a competitive schedule that helped prepare her for life in the IRL
Sarah currently runs Sarah Fisher Racing, which she started in 2008, becoming the first and only female team owner and the youngest owner in the IZOD IndyCar Series, as well as the first female team owner to win an IZOD IndyCar Series race. In 2010, she competed in her ninth and final Indy 500, marking the most number of starts for a woman in the 94-year history of the event.
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Nascar Pioneer Sammy Packard Is Born - October 4, 1919
October 4, 1919 - March 23, 2003
Sammy Packard
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(Photo; legendsofnascar.com)
Home: Barrington, Rhode Island, USA.
Sammy Packard
Home: Barrington, Rhode Island, USA.
Packard began racing midgets in 1937, in the Bay State Racing Association. He quickly found himself supporting his family by racing seven nights a week. He tried his hand at stock cars, too, competing in the first stock car race at the Thompson Speedway, in 1939.
Sammy was also instrumental in staging the first stock car race at Lonsdale, held October 27, 1947. In an effort to draw more fans to that first event, he and Buddy Shuman, who came up from North Carolina, went to the Lonsdale Sports Arena and staged an exhibition race for fans during the halftime break at a football game.
Although he called Rhode Island home, Sammy raced all over the country, in midgets, stock cars, motorcycles, and even boats. When D. Anthony Venditti flooded the infield at the Seekonk Speedway, Packard became a two time Class D New England champion. Sammy also competed in the New York Outboard Marathon, where he, along with 350 others, would start out in Albany and race down the Hudson River to New York City.
The first time Packard raced at Daytona, he threw his ’37 Buick Phaeton into the north turn, and promptly slid across the seat over to the passenger side of the car. His crew quickly went to work, finding some rope that had been discarded on the beach, and tied him into the Phaeton.
Bill France Sr. later invited Sammy to a meeting with a group of men at the Streamline Hotel in December 1947, that resulted in the formation of NASCAR.
In 1974, Sammy Packard took on a new challenge in his auto racing career by starting an antique race car restoration business. He restored well over 100 racecars, which have been shipped coast to coast, and as far away as West Germany.
Sammy Packard, who was the last surviving participant of the meeting which formed NASCAR, died at his home in Daytona Beach on March 23, 2003. He was 83 years old.
Sammy was inducted in the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame in 2004.
Sammy was also instrumental in staging the first stock car race at Lonsdale, held October 27, 1947. In an effort to draw more fans to that first event, he and Buddy Shuman, who came up from North Carolina, went to the Lonsdale Sports Arena and staged an exhibition race for fans during the halftime break at a football game.
Although he called Rhode Island home, Sammy raced all over the country, in midgets, stock cars, motorcycles, and even boats. When D. Anthony Venditti flooded the infield at the Seekonk Speedway, Packard became a two time Class D New England champion. Sammy also competed in the New York Outboard Marathon, where he, along with 350 others, would start out in Albany and race down the Hudson River to New York City.
The first time Packard raced at Daytona, he threw his ’37 Buick Phaeton into the north turn, and promptly slid across the seat over to the passenger side of the car. His crew quickly went to work, finding some rope that had been discarded on the beach, and tied him into the Phaeton.
Bill France Sr. later invited Sammy to a meeting with a group of men at the Streamline Hotel in December 1947, that resulted in the formation of NASCAR.
In 1974, Sammy Packard took on a new challenge in his auto racing career by starting an antique race car restoration business. He restored well over 100 racecars, which have been shipped coast to coast, and as far away as West Germany.
Sammy Packard, who was the last surviving participant of the meeting which formed NASCAR, died at his home in Daytona Beach on March 23, 2003. He was 83 years old.
Sammy was inducted in the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame in 2004.
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"Oldest NASCAR Driver" James Hylton Calls It Quits At 79 - October 4, 2013
October 4, 2013
(Photo; dodgecharger.com)
The oldest driver to race in each of NASCAR's three highest divisions, Hylton called it a career at Kansas Speedway after an ARCA race. The Cup rookie of the year in 1966, Hylton spent the last several years of his career racing in the ARCA series.
Hylton's friends put together a car they believed could compete at Kansas, and it even sported a gold paint scheme that honors the early years of his racing career. Hylton finished 18th.
"I'm retiring at the end of the day, but my heart is wanting to keep going," he said. "But it's a done deal. I won't be back as a driver."
Born on his family's farm in Virginia in 1934, Hylton's family had to work hard to make ends meet during the Depression. Hylton remembers toiling in the fields all day to help out.
He started driving in his father's Ford Model T, his brother taught him how to work the pedals. And from that humble beginning, Hylton embarked on a winding career in motor sports. He served as a mechanic for Rex White and then as crew chief for Ned Jarrett in the early days of NASCAR, then got back behind the wheel and placed second in the Cup standings in 1966.
Hylton also finished second in points to Richard Petty in 1967 and 1971, and won twice in more than 600 Cup starts, at Richmond in 1970 and Talladega in 1972. In all, the good-natured Hylton racked up 140 top-five finishes and 321 top-10s in the Cup series.
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Jules Bianchi Suffers Serious Injury During Japanese GP - October 5, 2014
August 3, 1989 - July 17, 2015
Jules Bianchi
Bianchi was the grandson of Mauro Bianchi, who competed in GT racing during the 1960s and three non-championship Formula One Grands Prix in 1961. He was also the grandnephew of Lucien, who competed in 19 Formula One Grands Prix between 1959 and 1968 and won the 1968 24 Hours of Le Mans, before dying during Le Mans testing the following year.
On October 5, 2014 during the Japanese Grand Prix, Bianchi lost control of his Marussia in very wet conditions and collided with a recovery vehicle, suffering a diffuse axonal injury. He underwent emergency surgery and was placed into an induced coma, and remained comatose until his death on July 17, 2015. Bianchi is the first Formula One driver killed as a result of an accident during a race event since Ayrton Senna at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
On October 5, 2014 during the Japanese Grand Prix, Bianchi lost control of his Marussia in very wet conditions and collided with a recovery vehicle, suffering a diffuse axonal injury. He underwent emergency surgery and was placed into an induced coma, and remained comatose until his death on July 17, 2015. Bianchi is the first Formula One driver killed as a result of an accident during a race event since Ayrton Senna at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
The funeral service was held at the Nice Cathedral, on July 21, 2015. He lies at rest in his native city. Many prominent driver figures attended Bianchi's funeral, such as Alexander Wurz, Esteban Gutiérrez, Allan McNish, Alexander Rossi, Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel, Jean-Éric Vergne, Marcus Ericsson, Roberto Merhi, Adrian Sutil, Valtteri Bottas, Pastor Maldonado, Pedro de la Rosa, Romain Grosjean, Daniel Ricciardo, Felipe Massa, Alain Prost, Nico Hülkenberg, Olivier Panis, Daniil Kvyat and Max Chilton.
In December 2015, Bianchi's father announced plans to create a foundation in his son's honour to uncover and nurture young drivers throughout their career. The initiative involves exhibiting Jules Bianchi’s memorabilia and merchandising with JB17 branding, sponsoring opportunities and events. Among the supporters is Prince Albert of Monaco, where the foundation is based.
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(Photo;express.co.uk)
Drivers stood together to remember Jules Bianchi ahead of the 2015 Hungary Grand Prix.
For more see; Remembering Jules Bianchi
(Photo;express.co.uk)
Drivers stood together to remember Jules Bianchi ahead of the 2015 Hungary Grand Prix.
For more see; Remembering Jules Bianchi
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"Former F-1 Veteran" Andrea de Cesaris Dies In Road Incident - October 5, 2014
May 31, 1959 - October 5, 2014
Andrea de Cesaris
(Photo;newsf1.it)
Born in Rome, Italy.
De Cesaris was a multiple karting champion, he graduated to Formula 3 in Britain, winning numerous events and finishing 2nd in the championship to Chico Serra. From Formula 3, he graduated to Formula 2 with future McLaren boss Ron Dennis' Project 4 team.
In 1980, de Cesaris was picked up by Alfa Romeo for the final events of the 1980 World Championship, replacing Vittorio Brambilla who had, in turn, replaced Patrick Depailler when he was killed testing at Hockenheim. At just 21 years old, his first race in Canada ended after eight laps because of engine failure. In his second race, at Watkins Glen in the United States, he went off and crashed into the catch fencing at the Junction corner after two laps.
In 1981, largely thanks to his personal Marlboro sponsorship which also happened to be McLaren's main sponsor, de Cesaris landed a seat at McLaren which had after the 1980 season merged with the Project Four Formula 2 team run by Ron Dennis. Although he was quick the season was not a success, with de Cesaris crashing no less than nineteen times either in practice or the race and sometimes in both. It was at this point in his career that the nickname "Andrea de Crasheris" was coined.
He started 208 Formula One Grands Prix, achieving 5 podiums, one pole position, and scored a total of 59 championship points, but remains the driver with the most GP starts without a win. He drove for a total of 10 teams: McLaren, Alfa Romeo, Brabham, Rial, Tyrrell, Jordan, Ligier, Scuderia Italia, Minardi and Sauber.
After retiring from motor-racing, de Cesaris became a successful currency broker in Monte Carlo. It has been reported that he spent six months of the year in this occupation and the remainder windsurfing around the world. In the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, de Cesaris gave a substantial donation to a sail manufacturer whose factory in Sri Lanka had been destroyed in the disaster.
De Cesaris was killed in a road incident on October 5, 2014 at age 55 while riding his Suzuki motorbike. Italian press reported that he died on impact with the guard rail on the outer lane of Rome's Grande Raccordo Anulare motorway, in proximity of the Bufalotta turn-off.
(Photo;andyblackmoredesign.com)
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Walter Wolf Born In Graz, Austria - October 5, 1939
October 5, 1939
Walter Wolf
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(Photo; vebidoo.com)
Born in Graz, Austria.
A Canadian oil-drilling equipment supplier who in the early 1970's made a fortune from the North Sea oil business and decided to join the world of Formula One motor racing. As a Formula 1 owner, Walter Wolf gave Canada a presence in Grand Prix and Can-Am racing in the late ’70s. In 1977, Jody Scheckter drove a Wolf-Ford to a win in Argentine in its first race ever, then followed with wins at the Monaco and Mosport. Wolf’s cars also competed in Can-Am with Gilles Villeneuve driving and in European Formula 1. Austrian-born Wolf became a Canadian citizen in 1967 and always carried the Canadian flag on his cars.
Born in Graz, Austria.
A Canadian oil-drilling equipment supplier who in the early 1970's made a fortune from the North Sea oil business and decided to join the world of Formula One motor racing. As a Formula 1 owner, Walter Wolf gave Canada a presence in Grand Prix and Can-Am racing in the late ’70s. In 1977, Jody Scheckter drove a Wolf-Ford to a win in Argentine in its first race ever, then followed with wins at the Monaco and Mosport. Wolf’s cars also competed in Can-Am with Gilles Villeneuve driving and in European Formula 1. Austrian-born Wolf became a Canadian citizen in 1967 and always carried the Canadian flag on his cars.
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Michael Andretti Born In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA - October 5, 1962
October 5, 1962
Michael Andretti
(Photo; niashf.org)
Born In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA.
Michael is from the famous Andretti racing family. He is the son of Formula 1, CART and NASCAR racing legend Mario Andretti. His brother Jeff Andretti competed in IndyCar. Michael's uncle Aldo Andretti was an open wheel racer until an accident ended his racing career. Aldo's son, John Andretti raced in IndyCar before he became a NASCAR regular. He returned to IndyCar in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, where he raced in the Indy 500. Aldo's other son, Adam also is a racecar driver, and in 2005, Michael's son Marco began his career in Indy Racing. The Andretti family became the first family to have five relatives, Michael, Mario, Marco, Jeff, and John compete in the same series (CART/Champ Car/IndyCar).
Michael began racing in 1980, living in the shadow of his illustrious father, who eventually became a 3-time IndyCar champion and the 1978 Formula One World Champion. Following a successful career racing karts, winning 50 of his 75 races over eight years, he moved into racing cars. He obtained his SCCA National License in 1980, then won six races to claim the SCCA’s Northeast Division Formula Ford championship in 1981. He also drove in a number of Formula Vee races in regional SCCA events. In 1982, he won six of the 11 races on his way to winning the Robert Bosch US Formula Super Vee Championship. He also won the opening race of the 1983 Super Vee season before he moved up to drive in Formula Atlantic, and won his second title by winning the FIA Formula Mondial North American Cup the following season. Although he made his international sports car debut at the 1982 24 Hours of Le Mans, he was denied the opportunity to race as the Mirage M12 he was chosen to race with his father was disqualified 80 minutes before the race was due to start. The father and son partnership returned to the Circuit de la Sarthe the following year, and were joined by Philippe Alliot in the Porsche Kremer Racing’s Porsche 956, taking third place. Michael also raced alongside his father in the Riverside 6 Hours where they were joined by A. J. Foyt and Preston Henn, but the Porsche 935 failed to finish. The father and son duo paired up again the 1984 Daytona 24 Hours, this time in a full-works Porsche 962, which made its race debut. They took pole position, but during the race, the engine broke.
He made his CART debut in 1983. A legend in CART, he drove in the series before and after his unhappy Formula One sojourn with McLaren, becoming the third most successful driver in CART history with 42 race victories who won the 1991 CART PPG Indy Car World Series. Since retiring from the cockpit, his runs his own IndyCar team, which runs his son, Marco Andretti, as well as a team in the FIA Formula E Championship.
Michael was inducted in 2002, into National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, and he was also elected into the Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2008, the Long Beach Grand Prix Walk of Fame in 2010, the Canadian Motorsports (International Division) Hall of Fame in 2012, and the Indianapolis Speedway's Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2012.
Michael was inducted in 2002, into National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, and he was also elected into the Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2008, the Long Beach Grand Prix Walk of Fame in 2010, the Canadian Motorsports (International Division) Hall of Fame in 2012, and the Indianapolis Speedway's Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2012.
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Enzo Ferrari Makes Auto Racing Debut - October 5, 1919
On this day in 1919, a young Italian car mechanic and engineer named Enzo Ferrari takes part in his first car race, a hill climb in Parma, Italy. He finished fourth. Ferrari was a good driver, but not a great one. In all, he won just 13 of the 47 races he entered. Many people say that this is because he cared too much for the sports cars he drove, he could never bring himself to ruin an engine in order to win a race.
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"Pennsylvania’s Sprint Car Legend" Smokey Snellbaker Dies - October 5, 2011
March 6, 1938 - October 5, 2011
Larry "Smokey" Snellbaker
(Photo; williamsgrove.com)
Born in York, Pennsylvania, USA.
Smokey was a legend in the sprint car world, especially in the Pennsylvania area. One of the most popular and dominant drivers in Pennsylvania’s Sprint Car circuit, Smokey Snellbaker was also one of the most humble. Like many of the grassroots racers, Snellbaker worked on his racecar during the evenings after his day job was over, racing on the weekends. Unlike many of the grassroots racers, Snellbaker won over 200 feature races and countless championships.
Working as a factory technician at AMF snowmobiles then as a truck driver for Preston Trucking, Snellbaker became a fan favorite for his blue collar, regular working man ethics and clean driving on the track. It didn’t hurt that he was always a threat to win whenever he showed up to race.
Snellbaker was the original “Smoke”, and later “Smokey” and even later, “the Silver Fox” as he continued to win races and fans at every track he visited. The thing that kept Smokey racing was the fun. Money, status or fame never entered his mind when it came to racing. Snellbaker once said, “We raced because we loved it.”
Snellbaker was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Iowa in 2002. He was a member of the York County Racing Club.
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John Lingenfelter Born In East Freedom, Pennsylvania - October 6, 1945
October 6, 1945 - December 25, 2003
John Earl Lingenfelter
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(Photo;dragstripdeaths.webs.com)
Born in East Freedom, Pennsylvania, USA.
He was an NHRA driver, engineer and tuner. Over his career, Lingenfelter won 13 career national event events in Competition Eliminator and was the first driver in the class to break the six-second quarter-mile barrier. He finished second in the Pro Stock Truck standings in 1998, which was the first year of competition for the now defunct class. His Cavalier had an E.T. of 7.08 seconds.
He was the founder of Lingenfelter Performance Engineering in Decatur, Indiana. LPE is a shop specializing in the modification of GM vehicles such as the F-Bodies (Camaro, Firebird), B Bodies (Impala SS, Caprice, Roadmaster, Fleetwood), Corvette, CTS-V, GTO, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, Escalade, Denali, SSR, Hummer H2, and Sierra. The shop also worked with tuning packages for the Dodge Viper and Plymouth Prowler.
John Earl Lingenfelter
Born in East Freedom, Pennsylvania, USA.
He was an NHRA driver, engineer and tuner. Over his career, Lingenfelter won 13 career national event events in Competition Eliminator and was the first driver in the class to break the six-second quarter-mile barrier. He finished second in the Pro Stock Truck standings in 1998, which was the first year of competition for the now defunct class. His Cavalier had an E.T. of 7.08 seconds.
He was the founder of Lingenfelter Performance Engineering in Decatur, Indiana. LPE is a shop specializing in the modification of GM vehicles such as the F-Bodies (Camaro, Firebird), B Bodies (Impala SS, Caprice, Roadmaster, Fleetwood), Corvette, CTS-V, GTO, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, Escalade, Denali, SSR, Hummer H2, and Sierra. The shop also worked with tuning packages for the Dodge Viper and Plymouth Prowler.
In the press, his tuned vehicles were reported to have as much civility as the stock vehicles upon which they were based in everyday driving. However, these vehicles were brutally fast. Motor Trend tested a Tahoe tuned by Lingenfelter and achieved a 5.1 second 0-60 time as well as a 0.95g lateral acceleration figure. These numbers match the performance figures of the C4 Corvette and GMC Syclones/Typhoons of that era. This Tahoe had its 350in.3 V8 bored and stroked to 396in.3, making 500 hp and still retaining its 4WD drivetrain. Motor Trend also tested a Lingenfelter built Impala SS that had the same performance numbers as the last generation M5 (0-60 4.7 sec) due to its bored and stroked LT-1 (Displacement rose to 383in.3 and horsepower rose to 440). Another vehicle built by Lingenfelter was also featured in the June 1996 issue of Car and Driver when they built a special C4 Corvette with a 427in.3 engine that attained a top speed of 212 mph. Currently, the most powerful vehicle they have in their stable is a 2006 twin-turbo Corvette Z06 with 1,109 rear wheel horsepower worth $288,540. John built the engine for "Big Red", a 1969 Camaro that has achieved speeds in excess of 220 mph.
He was critically injured during an NHRA Summit Sports Compact drag racing event at Pomona, California on October 27, 2002. He died Thursday December 25, 2003 at Adams County Memorial Hospital in Decatur, Indiana at age 58.
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(Photo;BangShift.com)
Inside Lingenfelter Performance Engineering.
Inside Lingenfelter Performance Engineering.
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Francois Cevert Dies In Violent Crash At The Glen - October 6, 1973
February 25, 1944 - October 6, 1973
Francois Cevert
(Photo; Raimund Kommer (Own work)
Born in Paris, France.
Winner of the 1971 "United States Grand Prix" at the Watkins Glen, Cevert died in a violent crash on the same track.
In 1973, the Tyrrell team was back on top in Formula One and Cevert showed he was capable of running with teammate and team leader Jackie Stewart at almost every race. He finished second six times, three times behind Stewart, who acknowledged that at times the Frenchman had been a very "obedient" teammate. As Cevert began to draw even with Stewart's driving abilities, the Scot was secretly planning to retire after the last race of the season in the United States. For the 1974 season, Cevert would be Tyrrell's team leader.
Born in Paris, France.
Winner of the 1971 "United States Grand Prix" at the Watkins Glen, Cevert died in a violent crash on the same track.
In 1973, the Tyrrell team was back on top in Formula One and Cevert showed he was capable of running with teammate and team leader Jackie Stewart at almost every race. He finished second six times, three times behind Stewart, who acknowledged that at times the Frenchman had been a very "obedient" teammate. As Cevert began to draw even with Stewart's driving abilities, the Scot was secretly planning to retire after the last race of the season in the United States. For the 1974 season, Cevert would be Tyrrell's team leader.
At Watkins Glen, with Stewart having already clinched his third World Championship, Cevert was killed during Saturday morning qualifying, while battling for pole position with Ronnie Peterson. In the fast left-right uphill combination called "The Esses" Cevert's car was a little too far over towards the left side of the track, getting a bump from the kerbs. This made it swerve towards the right-hand side of the track, where it touched the track's signature powder blue safety barriers causing it to spin and crash into the barriers on the other side of the track at a near 90° angle, uprooting and lifting the barrier. Cevert died instantly of massive injuries inflicted by the barrier.
Jackie Stewart was one of the last on the scene of Cevert's accident and said later "They had left him in the car, because he was so clearly dead." Stewart immediately left the scene of the accident and returned to the pits. Because of Cevert's death, Tyrrell withdrew its entry for this GP, and Stewart did not run his final, and 100th race.
When practice resumed, Stewart went out on the track in his car on a personal fact-finding mission. His conclusion was that his preference was to take The Esses complex in fourth gear in the Tyrrell, hence he would be at the low end of the engine's rev range, making the car more tractable and less nervous (in exchange for a bit less throttle response). Cevert, however, preferred to use third gear and be at the top end of his engine's power range: it was always something of a compromise because of the need to accelerate through the combination of corners. Stewart noted that the Tyrrell always felt jumpy through this section of the Watkins Glen track owing to its short wheelbase; he felt that this was somewhat counteracted by driving in the higher gear even though this meant a time penalty if he got his line wrong through the corner. A film documentary of the time, shot minutes before the start of the fatal practice session, captures Stewart and Cevert in a spirited debate on exactly this point. A similar accident occurred at the same circuit a year later in the 1974 USA Grand Prix when another young Formula One driver, Helmuth Koinigg, died when his car suffered a suspension failure sending him straight into the barrier at turn 7. The lower portion of the barrier failed and Koinigg's car slid under the top portion, decapitating him. As a response to Cevert's and Koinigg's accidents, a chicane was added in 1975 in order to slow the cars through the "Esses". The chicane was removed in 1985 after the track lost its Formula One race in 1981.
The 2013 film Rush portrays a composite of Cevert's qualifying fatal accident, combining what appears to be the remains of a blue liveried 1973 Tyrrell 006 with the configuration of Helmuth Koinigg's accident and decapitation while driving the Surtees TS16 in the 1974 race.
Cevert was extensively profiled and interviewed in the Formula One documentary, The Quick and the Dead.
The 2013 film Rush portrays a composite of Cevert's qualifying fatal accident, combining what appears to be the remains of a blue liveried 1973 Tyrrell 006 with the configuration of Helmuth Koinigg's accident and decapitation while driving the Surtees TS16 in the 1974 race.
Cevert was extensively profiled and interviewed in the Formula One documentary, The Quick and the Dead.
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Louis Meyer First "3-Time Indy 500 Winner" Dies At 91 - October 7, 1995
July 21, 1904 – October 7, 1995
Louis Meyer
.jpg/800px-Louis_Meyer_at_the_1928_Indianapolis_500_(cropped).jpg)
Born in Manhattan, New York, USA.
Meyer was raised in Los Angeles, where he began automobile racing at various California tracks. He went on to become the first-ever driver to win the Indianapolis 500 three times, capturing the prestigious race as a rookie starter in 1928, then again in 1933 and 1936. Louis Meyer started the tradition of drinking milk in victory lane at the 1933 Indianapolis 500 race, when he drank a glass of milk. Following his 1936 Indianapolis 500 victory, he drank from a glass milk bottle instead, as most race winners have done since. Following the suggestion of former race winner, Tommy Milton, that year he became the first driver to receive the Pace Car as part of the race winnings. Louis Meyer won the United States National Driving Championship in 1928, 1929 and 1933.
Meyer was raised in Los Angeles, where he began automobile racing at various California tracks. He went on to become the first-ever driver to win the Indianapolis 500 three times, capturing the prestigious race as a rookie starter in 1928, then again in 1933 and 1936. Louis Meyer started the tradition of drinking milk in victory lane at the 1933 Indianapolis 500 race, when he drank a glass of milk. Following his 1936 Indianapolis 500 victory, he drank from a glass milk bottle instead, as most race winners have done since. Following the suggestion of former race winner, Tommy Milton, that year he became the first driver to receive the Pace Car as part of the race winnings. Louis Meyer won the United States National Driving Championship in 1928, 1929 and 1933.
Meyer's wife June did not even know he was racing in the 1928 Indianapolis 500. Earlier in the day she was in Pennsylvania picking up a wrecked car and after that went to see her brother-in-law Eddie Meyer race in Reading. She found out about her husbands victory after the track announcer in Reading asked the crowd to give a big hand to Eddie Meyer, the brother of the Indianapolis 500 winner.
Louis Meyer died on October 7, 1995 in Searchlight, Nevada, aged 91, where he had been living in retirement since 1972. He was interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.
Meyer's son Louis (Sonny) Meyer, Jr. assisted him in engine work at his race shops, and worked on the various DOHC Ford engines in USAC racing, including building 15 Indianapolis 500-winning engines. Grandson Louis III (Butch) built Oldsmobile Aurora engines for Team Menard in Indy Racing League IndyCar Series competition, winning the 1996-97 and 1999 championships before becoming the current Indy Pro Series director.
Louis Meyer died on October 7, 1995 in Searchlight, Nevada, aged 91, where he had been living in retirement since 1972. He was interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.
Meyer's son Louis (Sonny) Meyer, Jr. assisted him in engine work at his race shops, and worked on the various DOHC Ford engines in USAC racing, including building 15 Indianapolis 500-winning engines. Grandson Louis III (Butch) built Oldsmobile Aurora engines for Team Menard in Indy Racing League IndyCar Series competition, winning the 1996-97 and 1999 championships before becoming the current Indy Pro Series director.
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Roe Wins CRC Chemicals Can-Am at Riverside - October 7, 1984
October 7, 1984
Michael Roe of Ireland won the ninth round of the CRC Chemicals Can-Am at Riverside, California, USA. It was Roe's 7th win of the season, a Can-Am record. He would go on to win the 1984 Can-Am Championship, as well as setting a series record for poles in a season, taking the pole in all 10 rounds. Horst Kroll of Toronto, followed a 3rd fastest in qualifying, with a 3rd place finish behind Roe and championship contender Jim Crawford.
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"Home Hero And Legend" Gilles Villeneuve Wins Canadian Grand Prix - October 8, 1978
October 8, 1978
(Photo; Archives de la Ville de Montréal via photopin cc)
Canadian racing legend Gilles Villeneuve celebrated his first victory in Formula 1 before a home crowd at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.
The Canadian Grand Prix has been part of the Formula One World Championship since 1967. It was first staged at Mosport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario as a sports car event before it alternated between Mosport and Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Quebec after Formula One took over the event. After 1971, safety concerns led to the Grand Prix moving permanently to Mosport. In 1978, after similar safety concerns with Mosport, the Canadian Grand Prix moved to its current home on Île Notre-Dame in Montreal.
The first winner in Montreal was Quebec native Villeneuve, driving a Ferrari. Before the race, in pre-race interviews Mario Andretti noted that he thought that the circuit has been designed in favour of Gilles Villeneuve, a comment that was picked up by local press. Andretti responded to the comments on race day morning, stating that he is "not critical of the race organizers", but instead "critical of our own FOCA officials who were sent over here to approve the track."
Poor weather and rain on Friday morning meant that the first practice session began 20 minutes later than scheduled. When the session did start, the two Ferrari drivers were fastest, Carlos Reutemann fastest with a lap of 2:02.600, ahead of team-mate Villeneuve.
The second practice session held on Friday was in damp weather conditions as the track dried, with Reutemann again fastest, with a lap of 1:57.900. Wet weather greeted the teams again on Saturday morning for a 90 minute practice session, although conditions got better towards the end of that session, allowing Lauda to go fastest with a time of 1:51.700, Keke Rosberg, Andretti and Watson completing the top four.
The entry of 28 cars had to be trimmed to 22 before the race, and those who failed to qualify were, unusually, from six different teams. They were Clay Regazzoni of Shadow, Beppe Gabbiani of Surtees, Arturo Merzario in the car bearing his name, Hector Rebaque in a privately run Lotus, Rolf Stommelen of Arrows and Michael Bleekemolen of ATS.
There were uncharacteristically bad performances from Reutemann, who took third in the championship with Ferrari, but could only qualify 11th, and the Tyrrells of Patrick Depailler and Didier Pironi, both also regular points scorers but down in 13th and 18th. Piquet was 14th on his debut for Brabham.
The top ten was just as interesting as the bottom six, as eight different cars were featured. Jacques Laffite was the lowest ranked of these, putting his Ligier 10th. World champion Andretti was also off the pace for Lotus, qualifying 9th. Hans Joachim Stuck drove very well to put the other Shadow 8th, beating his more decorated team mate Regazzoni by over two and a half seconds. Brabham, one of only two teams to have two cars in the top 10 (the other was Lotus), had Watson and Lauda 4th and 7th. They were split by Alan Jones's Williams, a sign of continuing improvement for the team and their Australian driver, who had finished 2nd the last time out at Watkins Glen, and Emerson Fittipaldi, who dragged the uncompetitive Copersucar up to 6th.
Home favourite Villeneuve put the Ferrari 3rd, a good performance from the Canadian who had been outperformed by team mate Reutemann all season. He was beaten to 2nd by Jody Scheckter of Wolf, who had also been improving of late. However, pole was a surprise. Jean-Pierre Jarier, who had fallen out of favour with ATS earlier in the season and been dropped in favour of drivers such as Alberto Colombo, Hans Binder and Harald Ertl, had last been semi-competitive with Shadow back in 1975 and had been drafted in by Lotus to replace Ronnie Peterson after his tragic death at Monza two races previous, took pole by just 0.011 seconds from Scheckter. This was no surprise after the Frenchman had set the fastest race lap in his first appearance for the team at Watkins Glen, but was classified 15th due to running out of fuel when in 3rd place.
The race started with Jarier in the lead, but Jones had a magnificent start, jumping up from 5th to 2nd. This meant that Scheckter dropped to 3rd, Villeneuve to 4th and Watson down to 5th. Andretti had jumped up past Lauda and Stuck and was holding 6th. Fittipaldi was a casualty on the first lap, sliding off the track into the mud and retiring. Stuck joined him at the same spot a lap later.
There was more drama in the race on lap 6, particularly for the Brabham team. First, Lauda had a brake failure and was out. Shortly afterwards, Andretti attempted to pass Watson in the other Brabham, and the two made contact, dropping almost right to the back of the field. This allowed Patrick Depailler up to 5th and Reutemann in the other Ferrari into 6th. Three laps later, Watson had an accident of his own, and was out for good.
The next retirement was on lap 17, when Bobby Rahal in the second Wolf suffered fuel injection problems and reduced the field to 17 runners.
Jarier had opened up a lead of 20 seconds at this point, as Jones in second was holding up the faster cars of Scheckter and Villeneuve behind him. However, on lap 18 Scheckter found a way past, and Villeneuve followed him through a lap later. At the same time, Depailler was dropping down the order with technical issues, allowing Reutemann into 5th and Derek Daly in the Ensign up to 6th. Daly was passed by Riccardo Patrese not long afterwards.
A good few laps ensued for Ferrari, as the very fast Villeneuve fought his way past Scheckter, who everyone knew was to be his team mate at Ferrari in 1979, for 2nd on lap 25. On lap 27, current team mate Reutemann battled past the slow Jones into fourth. Jones also slipped behind Patrese two laps later.
Daly moved back up to 6th on lap 33 when Jones dropped back even further with his own technical problems, but the Irishman was under severe pressure from Didier Pironi in the other Tyrrell. Lap 38 saw another retirement, that of René Arnoux in the Surtees with oil pressure difficulties.
The recovering Depailler fought his way past first team mate Pironi and then Derek Daly to take back 6th place on laps 47 and 48, just when trouble was beginning for fellow Frenchman Jean-Pierre Jarier, leading the race for Lotus, which first became apparent when Jacques Laffite was able to unlap himself in the Ligier. Three laps later, Jarier was out with no oil pressure. This was tragic for the Frenchman, who was looking certain to take his first victory, but fantastic for the Canadian fans, whose hero Villeneuve now looked set to take his. This allowed Daly back into the points in 6th.
1976 World Champion James Hunt crashed out two laps later, an unhappy end to his last race for McLaren, with whom he had had so much success, as it was known that the following year he would move to Wolf to replace Scheckter. He was followed out of the race by Laffite's Ligier a lap later, who had transmission problems.
From then on, the order did not change, and Villeneuve came home to take his first Grand Prix victory in front of his own fans.
From then on, the order did not change, and Villeneuve came home to take his first Grand Prix victory in front of his own fans.
(Photo: Archives de la Ville de Montréal via photopin cc)
He was followed home by his Ferrari team mate for the following year, Jody Scheckter and his current team mate Carlos Reutemann, 13 and 19 seconds behind respectively. Patrese took 4th in a solid and uneventful race, with Depailler's race to fifth anything but uneventful. Derek Daly came home sixth to secure his and Ensign's first ever points finish.
Villeneuve was killed in 1982 on his final qualifying lap for the Belgian Grand Prix. A few weeks after his death, the race course in Montreal was renamed Circuit Gilles Villeneuve after him. Gilles Villeneuve was one of the first people inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame, and is so far the only Canadian winner of the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix.
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