21 replies to this topic

[Autumnpuma]

In my view, Gilles was one of the three greatest drivers to ever hustle an F1 car around a track. On this, the 25th anniversary of his death, I ask everyone to go to youtube or metacafe or google movies and watch at least one clip of Gilles. Here's a good article from Formula1.com (be sure to check out their photo tribute as well).

Formula1.com

This Tuesday marks the 25th anniversary of the death of Gilles Villeneuve, a driver widely regarded as one of the greatest talents Formula One racing has ever produced. Between 1978 and 1981 Villeneuve took six victories for Ferrari. He passed away on May 8, 1982 after crashing in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder. By way of a tribute, we take a look back at what many remember as the French-Canadian�s finest hour - his epic battle with Rene Arnoux at Dijon�

The 1979 French Grand Prix was a landmark race for several reasons. Jean Pierre Jabouille gave Renault their maiden Formula One win and it was the first victory for a turbocharged car. Few people, however, remember these facts. So intense was the fight for second place between Villeneuve and Arnoux in the sister Renault, that it overshadowed pretty much everything else. It was racing at its finest.

With a five-week break between the French Grand Prix and the preceding Monaco round, most Formula One teams had been testing intensively. When they arrived at Dijon, the Renaults were blisteringly fast and duly took the front row of the grid in qualifying. They were followed by Villeneuve, Nelson Piquet's Brabham, championship leader Jody Scheckter in the second Ferrari and Piquet�s team mate Niki Lauda.

At the start of the race Villeneuve got the jump on the Renaults and took the lead ahead of Jabouille and Scheckter, as Arnoux fell all the way back to ninth. The opening laps saw a superb recovery drive from Arnoux as lap after lap he picked off the cars ahead to take third place on lap 15. Despite his poor start, the Frenchman and his turbocharged Renault looked a force to be reckoned with.

This fact wasn't lost on Villeneuve who, with a now ill-handling Ferrari, slipped behind Jabouille on lap 47. The yellow Renault disappeared off into the distance and didn't look back. Villeneuve, meanwhile, was being pulled in at a rate of knots by Arnoux. On lap 78 of 80, battle commenced.

Arnoux blasted past the French-Canadian on that lap but then his engine started to misfire. Maybe the turbo wasn't as perfect as everybody thought? Villeneuve, despite his Ferrari now handling atrociously, slipped back ahead on lap 79. The last lap would go down in legend, as corner after corner the pair raced flat out, two-abreast for the majority of the lap. Tyres touching, both cars bumping around over the rumble strips, millimetres away from causing an accident, both drivers wanted second place and neither would give up. As the sparks flew, the fans held their breath in awe, anticipation, fear and excitement. If either driver made a mistake, the ending was unlikely to be a happy one.

Then, on the exit of the final corner Arnoux ran just a fraction wide - it was enough for Villeneuve to sweep through to clinch second place. Jabouille had crossed the line 15 seconds earlier, heralding the dawn of the turbocharged era, but few fans had noticed. The only image people carried from the 1979 French Grand Prix was of two drivers putting everything on the line out of grit, determination and pride. Some thought it was out of stupidity, though, and both drivers were reprimanded.

Villeneuve would recall the race with affection: "That is my best memory of Grand Prix racing. Those few laps were just so fantastic to me - out-braking each other and trying to race for the line, touching each other but without wanting to put the other car out. It was just these two guys battling for second place without trying to be dirty but having to touch because of wanting to be first. I loved that moment."

And so did the fans...

[Yoda McFly]

            

Hey.  There's no general toast emoticon...  They're all celebratory!  

[Autumnpuma]

[Yoda McFly]

Okay, I had to wait for Mike's permission to post this.  Sorry for the crappy image quality, and you may or may not have seen this elsewhere, BUT IT'S ON MY WALL NOW!     And no, this photo isn't of the painting's permanent spot.

[aussief1]

Sadly I'm too young to have seen Gilles drive and have fond memories of him, but from what I hear and read from people that I respect, I too hold him in high regards with them and consider him one of the all time greats.

So on this the 25th anniversary of his death I spare a thought and give time for reflection.

RIP Gilles, you will never be forgotten

[goferrarigo]

aussief1, on May 7 2007, 09:13 PM, said:

Sadly I'm too young to have seen Gilles drive and have fond memories of him, but from what I hear and read from people that I respect, I too hold him in high regards with them and consider him one of the all time greats.

So on this the 25th anniversary of his death I spare a thought and give time for reflection.

RIP Gilles, you will never be forgotten

Same here...

[Jez]

aussief1, on May 8 2007, 12:13 PM, said:

Sadly I'm too young to have seen Gilles drive and have fond memories of him, but from what I hear and read from people that I respect, I too hold him in high regards with them and consider him one of the all time greats.

So on this the 25th anniversary of his death I spare a thought and give time for reflection.

RIP Gilles, you will never be forgotten

My thoughts exactly. I watched some youtube footage and read the article about him on F1.com. what a legend!! I've changed my signature to mark this 25th year since his death. RIP Gilles

[james]

I too am unfortunate enough to have not been around to watch his greatness unfold. It would have been amazing. I can still remember the first time I saw the video of Gilles' battle with Arnoux. I sat there in utter amazement. He was a true racer if there ever was one.

[shampion]

I am one of the fortunate ones who does remember seeing Gilles "fly" around the track.


Sadly though... I was also one of the unfortunate ones that had to witness the tragedy of his passing.

I "think" though... that if Gilles had to choose how to pass on to the next life... he probably got his wish.

Cheers Gilles

[pabloh20]

Yes, unfortunately for me, Gilles passed away just prior to me getting really interested in F1, so I never really saw him race 'live' as it were.

Thank heavens for Gilles and people like him, who through their talent make the world just a bit brighter.

[Argento Reloaded]

I�ve watched that French GP live and I remember I was a little bit dissapointed because Renault didn�t make the 1-2... youth sins!!!!
For me is not on historical F1 driver podium, but he was the most spectacular driver of the F1 History!!!!!

[LabradoRacer]

Going by what I have read about Gilles, he does come across as something exceptional. A pity his life was cruelly snatched away depriving fans of his artistry.

It's unfortunate that I haven't had even a look at a single video clip of him racing. Hope to do it soon.

[goferrarigo]

Here is one of the best overtaking moves...

[Argento Reloaded]

I was looking forward some info about Peugeot/LeMans/JVilleneuve and I found the following videos regarding Jacques at Goodwood 2004 talking about and driving his father first Ferrari (1979�s 312 T4). Enjoy them!

http://blog.myspace....89-7e16635ce03b

[Jez]

Gimme some real racing at the circuit named after the legend! Bring on the Canadian GP!!!

[mikathegreat2]

I never knew there was 2 big lakes running thru the circuit! Even though it is on an island separated from Montreal!

[aussief1]

mikathegreat2, on Jun 5 2007, 10:16 PM, said:

I never knew there was 2 big lakes running thru the circuit! Even though it is on an island separated from Montreal!

It is a beautiful track with the lake in the centre making it look much like Albert Park. The lake to the right hand side is a rowing lake that the Montreal Rowing club use.

One of my favourite tracks of the year.

I wonder if the "Wall of Champions" will claim the only Champion on the grid. Watch out Fernando!!!

Edited by aussief1, 06 June 2007 - 03:42 AM.

[Jez]

aussief1, on Jun 6 2007, 01:41 PM, said:

It is a beautiful track with the lake in the centre making it look much like Albert Park. The lake to the right hand side is a rowing lake that the Montreal Rowing club use.

One of my favourite tracks of the year.

I wonder if the "Wall of Champions" will claim the only Champion on the grid. Watch out Fernando!!!

Whats the wall of champions?

[Jez]

No need to answer that, I read about it at wikipedia-

The 1997 Canadian Grand Prix was stopped early due to a huge accident involving Olivier Panis. Panis spun off and broke his legs. He was sidelined for nine races and some see it, unfortunately for Panis, as a turning point in the career of the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix winner. In 1999, the final corner of Circuit Gilles Villeneuve became well-known for catching out former World Champions. Damon Hill, Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve all crashed into the same wall which had the slogan Bienvenue au Qu�bec (Welcome to Quebec in English) on it. The wall became affectionately known as the "Wall of Champions". The wall also caught out Ricardo Zonta, who, at the time, was a reigning sports car champion. In recent years, World Champion Fernando Alonso, GP2 Champion Nico Rosberg and CART Champion Juan Pablo Montoya have also fallen victim to the wall.

Excuse the underlining

Edited by Jez, 06 June 2007 - 03:43 PM.

[aussief1]

I was trying to find some footage of the "Wall of Champions" on youtube but I can up with nothing sorry mate

[Jez]

aussief1, on Jun 6 2007, 03:45 PM, said:

I was trying to find some footage of the "Wall of Champions" on youtube but I can up with nothing sorry mate

No worries, thanks for trying. I read Peters Windsors thoughts about that particular corner in this article from ITV.com. Theres a bit of Hami worship at the end, but still an interesting read-

[Why has a relatively simple chicane at the final turn in Montreal caused so many big names to embarrass themselves over the years?Actually, I think it�s even more surprising that so many �great� drivers mess up their braking for the first corner � the tight left and right.

This, I think, is because it requires most of the braking to be carried out in loaded conditions; finding a �flat car� is not easy at this point of the lap � particularly when you are racing and thinking of the exit of two, rather than the entry to one.

Returning to your question, though, I guess it�s because the Montreal circuit is relatively �low� on downforce and because, therefore, it is relatively easy to benefit from a tow on that long straight leading to the last corner.

Drivers who normally find themselves having to sit behind an astoundingly precise Jarno Trulli suddenly see that they are picking up revs and can pull out of the tow as the braking area approaches� and then they panic because they are in foreign territory, either off-line down the inside or braking too late on the outside� They bump over the apex kerb, the car jumps sideways, they decide to call it quits� and it�s too late.

Meanwhile, the astoundingly precise Jarno Trulli has braked at exactly the same place, turned in at exactly the same rate and has long disappeared into the distance�

Can�t wait to see Lewis in Montreal, though.

Lewis an inch off-line and a tad too quick. Lewis driving with fingertips and velvety touch. Lewis crushing them into submission with his stunning, innate feel for track position.]

[Argento Reloaded]

I think the secret of the "Wall of champions" is brake fading.