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Formula 1 has solely seen two American World Champions in its prolonged historical past — however each of these Champions share an odd commonality. Each Phil Hill and Mario Andretti clinched their title within the Italian Grand Prix at Monza the place their teammates and title rivals had been tragically killed.
Whereas I’ve recognized the tales of each Ronnie Peterson’s and Wolfgang von Journeys’ tragic deaths, I by no means fairly put collectively that each males had been killed on the similar monitor — Autodromo Nazionale Monza — in the course of the occasion that in the end rewarded their American driver with a Championship after a season-long title struggle till I used to be operating by means of a number of the most iconic moments within the track’s history. Solely then did it daybreak on me that America’s World Championship historical past is marred in tragedy.
In 1961, Ferrari teammates Phil Hill and Wolfgang von Trips battled for supremacy in the course of the eight-race F1 season. Each drivers had been extremely aggressive, racking up wins, podiums, and points-scoring positions in each occasion however one, main as much as that season’s Italian Grand Prix, the penultimate occasion of the season. Hill had 29 factors to von Journeys’ 33; a win for both driver could be important at Monza.
Hill would ultimately take victory, however solely after one of many worst accidents in Components 1 historical past. On the finish of lap two, von Journeys collided with the Lotus of Jim Clark and misplaced management of his Ferrari. Sadly, his automobile crashed immediately right into a fence lined with spectators. Von Journeys was ejected from the automobile and killed, and the influence of his Ferrari killed an extra 15 spectators. The race continued; it’s alleged that rescue employees wished to maintain different followers entertained and forestall them leaving the monitor and clogging the roadways, enabling emergency personnel to extra shortly transport injured spectators to the hospital.
Together with his win, Phil Hill additionally took house the World Drivers Championship, and Ferrari was in a position to additionally bag the Constructor Championship. Without having to compete, Ferrari didn’t attend the ultimate race of the season at Watkins Glen. Hill ended the season with 34 factors. Von Journeys scored 33.
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An American wouldn’t enter vital title competition once more till the 1978 Components 1 season — and again it was a battle between to teammates, this time Lotus drivers Mario Andretti and Ronnie Peterson. Heading into the Italian Grand Prix, solely three races separated the Lotus group from the top of the season. Andretti led the standings with 63 factors to Peterson’s 51, however a number of good outcomes may have put the Swedish driver forward. The Italian Grand Prix could be integral to closing that hole.
However the begin was a catastrophe. The starter turned on the inexperienced lights earlier than all of the vehicles had totally gridded up, so the slowing midfield vehicles had been in a position to get a bounce on the leaders who had already stopped. Automobiles bunched up as they headed to the primary chicane, and James Hunt veered into Peterson whereas attempting to keep away from being struck by Ricardo Patrese. That contact ended up gathering seven extra vehicles, however Peterson in the end had the worst contact; after hitting Hunt, he crashed into the limitations and the automobile burst into flames.
Fortunately, Hunt, Clay Regazzoni, and Patrick Depailler had been in a position to pull Peterson from the wreck. His minor burns and extreme leg injures had been admittedly regarding, and it took 20 minutes for medical assist to reach, however Peterson wasn’t anticipated to die. Sid Watkins, not too long ago appointed medical director of F1, was prevented from attending to the driving force by a wall of Italian police; he revealed in his autobiography Life on the Restrict that Peterson had 27 fractures in each legs and shortly went into surgical procedure to function.
Through the evening, Peterson’s situation shortly destabilized, and he was recognized with a fats embolism. By the morning, his kidneys had failed. He was declared lifeless at 9:55 the morning after the race.
When Andretti acquired the information that his teammate had died, he additionally discovered that no different driver would have the ability to overtake him in factors; Andretti was World Champion — however like Phil Hill, tragedy meant he was unable to rejoice.
Since then, no American driver has come close to a World Championship, that means that nobody has had an opportunity to interrupt the painful cycle of demise resulting in victory.
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