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It is well known that Jochen Rindt, whose 50th anniversary of death is Saturday (September 5), also owes his world title to Emerson Fittipaldi for his victory in the 1970 United States Grand Prix. With this, Ferrari’s rival Jacky Ickx was deprived of the opportunity to overtake the Graz man.
He was Formula 1 world champion twice (1972 at Lotus and 1974 at McLaren), the first time he was the youngest at the time, until Fernando Alonso beat him in 2005. After 14 Grand Prix victories in ten years , Emerson Fittipaldi moved to the USA.
In 1989 he won the then first-rate CART championship, twice his jewel, the Indianapolis 500 (1989 and 1993 in the dramatic duel between two F1 champions and Nigel Mansell). But even at the age of 73, “Emmo” couldn’t get rid of racing.
Grandson Enzo currently drives in FIA Formula 3 (18th place), but cares more for his youngest son from his third marriage, Emerson Jun. (13). “Emerson drives kart racing in Italy and Central Europe, so we currently live near Desenzano on Lake Garda and not in South Florida,” says Fittipaldi Sr. during a visit to the Salzburg circuit.
Salzburg? Yes, the legend came here after an invite to “Sport & Talk” from ServusTV. Before he remembered episodes with Rindt with Helmut Marko and Jackie Stewart, “I did not want to miss the visit to the track where I finished fourth in Formula 2 in 1970,” explained the Brazilian. The visit occurred exactly on the anniversary, August 30. It was the last race for Jochen Rindt, who had withdrawn from the first race and won the second.
Rindt “the king” in Formula 2
The ring bosses Alex Reiner and Ernst Penninger were named Fittipaldi, wife Rossanna, Emerson jun. and daughter Vittoria welcome. “The Salzburg circuit was very fast. Also, the slope was uphill and downhill. It reminded me of Clermont-Ferrand, also a difficult route, which was actually too dangerous.”
Fittipaldi talks about his beginnings in Europe (since 1969) and his entry into Formula 1 as if it were yesterday. And don’t forget how Rindt supported you as a team leader at Lotus. “I was an inexperienced rookie. Jochen helped me in Formula 2, after all he was the ‘king’ of this series. And of course also in Formula 1, where I made my debut as the third Lotus driver in the GP. of Great Britain in Brands Hatch “.
Fittipaldi found Rindt “quickly very understanding”
The Brazilian explained how it came about: “We tested at Silverstone, the track was incredibly fast at the time, it inspired a lot of respect. Jochen set a time in 49er, then it was my turn. It was the chassis with the Rindt in Monaco. I said the car was understeering, but Jochen said, ‘Keep on the gas.’ So I was really faster. Fittipaldi was eighth on his debut in England, then fourth at Hockenheim with the first points.
“I met Jochen earlier when I came to a drivers meeting with Joakim Bonnier on Lake Geneva in 1970, who was president of the association at the time. I quickly found Jochen very personable.” Fittipaldi moved to Norwich near the Lotus factory.
“You have to stay in front of Ickx, absolutely”
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On Saturday morning in Monza, Rindt and Fittipaldi had a conversation. “Jochen told me: I will not drive Formula 2 again next year, I want you to drive in our team (which belonged to Rindt with Bernie Ecclestone, note). But hours later that was obsolete.”
Monza turned out to be a terrible weekend. After Rindt’s death was confirmed, Chief Colin Chapman ordered all team members to leave the Autodrom and Italy immediately. After that no one knew how it would go on. Lotus decided not to race at Mosport. Fittipaldi recalls: “John Miles, the second driver, left Lotus after Jochen’s death. Suddenly, I was the team leader, with Reine Wisell in the second car.”
At Watkins Glen, only his fourth Grand Prix, Fittipaldi “came under enormous pressure. Colin (Chapman) kept saying, ‘You have to be ahead of Ickx, absolutely.’ That way, I was able to secure the title for Jochen, who also it was thanks to my first victory he succeeded. ” Ferrari star Ickx was “only” fourth behind Rodriguez (BRM) and Wisell, and Rindt was champion posthumously.
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