Sunday
Jul182021
JULY 21, 2021
Sunday, July 18, 2021 at 04:49PM 
(Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)
Lewis Hamilton (No. 44 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team) delivered a remarkable comeback to win the British Grand Prix in front of 140,000 spectators on a sizzling afternoon at Silverstone, where this season's title battle boiled over. Hamilton was hit with a 10-second penalty after he was accused of putting Max Verstappen's (No. 33 Red Bull Racing Honda) life on the line when Formula One's championship rivals crashed at 190 mph on lap one. The terrifying shunt resulted in Verstappen's afternoon ending in the barriers and a subsequent visit to the hospital. Hamilton passed Charles Leclerc (No. 16 Scuderia Ferrari) with only two-and-a-half laps remaining of a thrilling race after the Ferrari driver ran out of road on the exit of Copse. Hamilton's stunning win – his eighth on home turf – moved him to within seven points of Verstappen on a remarkable afternoon. Hamilton jumped out of his Mercedes and leapt over a barrier before waving the Union Flag in front of the packed grandstands. Read more of Duncan Hamilton's (The Telegraph) excellent report from Sunday's British Grand Prix here.
Lewis Hamilton (No. 44 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team) delivered a remarkable comeback to win the British Grand Prix in front of 140,000 spectators on a sizzling afternoon at Silverstone, where this season's title battle boiled over. Hamilton was hit with a 10-second penalty after he was accused of putting Max Verstappen's (No. 33 Red Bull Racing Honda) life on the line when Formula One's championship rivals crashed at 190 mph on lap one. The terrifying shunt resulted in Verstappen's afternoon ending in the barriers and a subsequent visit to the hospital. Hamilton passed Charles Leclerc (No. 16 Scuderia Ferrari) with only two-and-a-half laps remaining of a thrilling race after the Ferrari driver ran out of road on the exit of Copse. Hamilton's stunning win – his eighth on home turf – moved him to within seven points of Verstappen on a remarkable afternoon. Hamilton jumped out of his Mercedes and leapt over a barrier before waving the Union Flag in front of the packed grandstands. Read more of Duncan Hamilton's (The Telegraph) excellent report from Sunday's British Grand Prix here.
(Richard Prince/Corvette Racing)
Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor (No. 3 Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette C8.R) celebrated their win in unusual circumstances Saturday afternoon, when nearby lightning strikes ended the Northeast Grand Prix just past the halfway point at Lime Rock Park. Garcia had a nine-second lead over Nick Tandy (No. 4 Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette C8.R) when nearby lightning first halted racing with 72 minutes left in the two-hour, 40-minute IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race. The clock kept running, and more lightning eventually ended the race with the cars still stopped in pit lane. “It is what it is,” Garcia said. “We had a ton of fans out here today, and safety comes first. This time we were lucky in that we were leading when the red flag came. For sure, you need to be up there in that position to benefit from the conditions.” The GT Le Mans (GTLM) class victory was the fourth this season and ninth in the last 16 races for Garcia, Taylor and the No. 3 Corvette. Tandy and Tommy Milner shared the GTLM runner-up finish in the No. 4 Corvette, while Mathieu Jaminet and Cooper MacNeil finished third in the No. 79 WeatherTech Racing Porsche 911 RSR-19. The first Lime Rock win for Garcia and third win in four weeks for the No. 3 car was both planned and unplanned. Garcia and Taylor knew the plan going into the race but didn’t know how it would end. “It was about fuel mileage, saving tires and getting through traffic cleanly,” Taylor said. “Thankfully, we executed well and the driver change went well. We knew the weather was imminent at some point and that it could be red-flagged, so we knew track position was going to be important. Thankfully, we were out front when that came.” (Thank you to Jeff Olson/IMSA Media)
(Michelin Motorsport)
Not even the elements can stop Roman De Angelis and Ross Gunn in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The drivers continued a torrid streak that began late last year, winning Saturday’s GT Daytona (GTD) portion of the Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park. Originally scheduled for two hours, 40 minutes, the race was red-flagged after 90 minutes due to lightning in the area and unable to be restarted. After the first lightning strike, De Angelis – with Gunn and their No. 23 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3 leading – only wanted more lightning. “We definitely knew the weather was coming,” De Angelis said. “Sitting on the pit box, we were all feeling a little light drizzle coming. We were definitely expecting something to change with the track conditions. Obviously, (Gunn) saw the splashes on the windshield, but we couldn’t really tell what was going to happen with the lightning. Once it started, in a way we hoped the lightning would come in a time that would allow us to not have to go out again.” The result netted De Angelis and Gunn their second win of the season, their fourth straight podium finish and 11th top-five performance in the last 12 races dating to last September at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. In addition, the hot driver duo took over the GTD season points lead and extended their advantage in the IMSA WeatherTech Sprint Cup. “It’s a big deal for us,” Gunn said of the season points lead. “We’ve just slowly chipped away throughout the year – got fifth, fourth, third, first (in previous races). It’s been going really well. I think the main strength of this team is the execution and the lack of mistakes,” Gunn added. “And I’m talking about every member of the team. The pit stops are great, the strategy is great, the setup has been getting better and better every weekend. And me and Roman have been learning the tracks quicker.” Madison Snow and co-driver Bryan Sellers finished second in the No. 1 Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3, with Jack Hawksworth and Aaron Telitz taking third in the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3. (Thank you to Mark Robinson/IMSA Media)
Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor (No. 3 Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette C8.R) celebrated their win in unusual circumstances Saturday afternoon, when nearby lightning strikes ended the Northeast Grand Prix just past the halfway point at Lime Rock Park. Garcia had a nine-second lead over Nick Tandy (No. 4 Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette C8.R) when nearby lightning first halted racing with 72 minutes left in the two-hour, 40-minute IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race. The clock kept running, and more lightning eventually ended the race with the cars still stopped in pit lane. “It is what it is,” Garcia said. “We had a ton of fans out here today, and safety comes first. This time we were lucky in that we were leading when the red flag came. For sure, you need to be up there in that position to benefit from the conditions.” The GT Le Mans (GTLM) class victory was the fourth this season and ninth in the last 16 races for Garcia, Taylor and the No. 3 Corvette. Tandy and Tommy Milner shared the GTLM runner-up finish in the No. 4 Corvette, while Mathieu Jaminet and Cooper MacNeil finished third in the No. 79 WeatherTech Racing Porsche 911 RSR-19. The first Lime Rock win for Garcia and third win in four weeks for the No. 3 car was both planned and unplanned. Garcia and Taylor knew the plan going into the race but didn’t know how it would end. “It was about fuel mileage, saving tires and getting through traffic cleanly,” Taylor said. “Thankfully, we executed well and the driver change went well. We knew the weather was imminent at some point and that it could be red-flagged, so we knew track position was going to be important. Thankfully, we were out front when that came.” (Thank you to Jeff Olson/IMSA Media)
(Michelin Motorsport)Not even the elements can stop Roman De Angelis and Ross Gunn in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The drivers continued a torrid streak that began late last year, winning Saturday’s GT Daytona (GTD) portion of the Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park. Originally scheduled for two hours, 40 minutes, the race was red-flagged after 90 minutes due to lightning in the area and unable to be restarted. After the first lightning strike, De Angelis – with Gunn and their No. 23 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3 leading – only wanted more lightning. “We definitely knew the weather was coming,” De Angelis said. “Sitting on the pit box, we were all feeling a little light drizzle coming. We were definitely expecting something to change with the track conditions. Obviously, (Gunn) saw the splashes on the windshield, but we couldn’t really tell what was going to happen with the lightning. Once it started, in a way we hoped the lightning would come in a time that would allow us to not have to go out again.” The result netted De Angelis and Gunn their second win of the season, their fourth straight podium finish and 11th top-five performance in the last 12 races dating to last September at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. In addition, the hot driver duo took over the GTD season points lead and extended their advantage in the IMSA WeatherTech Sprint Cup. “It’s a big deal for us,” Gunn said of the season points lead. “We’ve just slowly chipped away throughout the year – got fifth, fourth, third, first (in previous races). It’s been going really well. I think the main strength of this team is the execution and the lack of mistakes,” Gunn added. “And I’m talking about every member of the team. The pit stops are great, the strategy is great, the setup has been getting better and better every weekend. And me and Roman have been learning the tracks quicker.” Madison Snow and co-driver Bryan Sellers finished second in the No. 1 Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3, with Jack Hawksworth and Aaron Telitz taking third in the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3. (Thank you to Mark Robinson/IMSA Media)
(James Gilbert/Getty Images)
The NASCAR Cup Series has its 13th different winner of the 2021 season through 22 races. Aric Almirola (No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford) won Sunday’s Foxwood Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway by .697 seconds over Christopher Bell (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota). Almirola led 25 of the 293 laps around the 1.058-mile track as the race was shortened due to darkness. Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Team Penske Ford) finished third. (Thank you to NASCAR Wire Service)
(Trans Am by Pirelli)
Ernie Francis Jr. (No. 98 Future Star Racing Ford Mustang) drove from the back of the grid to take the overall victory in the Ryan Companies US presents the Jed Copham Tribute Weekend, at Brainerd International Raceway on Sonday. Francis started 24th and quickly moved through traffic, needing only six laps to take third. From that point, he patiently waited through a pair of restarts and passed Chris Dyson on the inside on Lap 19 to take the TA lead. “We really had a dominant car out there today,” said the 23-year-old seven-time champion. “The car felt like it was on rails the whole race. We got up to the leaders and worked our way by them. I was able to run a nice, steady pace and pull away from them. Hopefully, we can take the momentum to the next one at Watkins Glen.” Incredibly, it was Francis’ first victory of the season in seven attempts. That upped his career total to 24 wins in TA – and his 47th including his 23 class triumphs. “It’s been so tough – we’ve been waiting so long for this win,” Francis said. “We’ve been struggling all year long. We had so many opportunities earlier in the season, but it just didn’t go our way. I’m so happy we could go from the back to win this. It’s been a great weekend so far. I finished off the SRX season last night and got second in the championship.” Fast qualifier Tomy Drissi (No. 8 Lucas Oil Chevrolet) led the opening 17 laps before being passed on a restart by Dyson and Francis. Drissi held on to take second, 19.219 seconds behind Francis. Dyson (No. 20 CDR ALTWELL CBD Ford Mustang) passed Drissi to lead a lap before losing the position to Francis. He was running second directly behind Francis when he spun off on lap 24, dropping to 15th in the combined field (with TA2). Dyson then worked his way back to finish third overall, 53.585 seconds behind Francis. (Thank you to Trans Am Media)
The NASCAR Cup Series has its 13th different winner of the 2021 season through 22 races. Aric Almirola (No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford) won Sunday’s Foxwood Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway by .697 seconds over Christopher Bell (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota). Almirola led 25 of the 293 laps around the 1.058-mile track as the race was shortened due to darkness. Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Team Penske Ford) finished third. (Thank you to NASCAR Wire Service)
(Trans Am by Pirelli)Ernie Francis Jr. (No. 98 Future Star Racing Ford Mustang) drove from the back of the grid to take the overall victory in the Ryan Companies US presents the Jed Copham Tribute Weekend, at Brainerd International Raceway on Sonday. Francis started 24th and quickly moved through traffic, needing only six laps to take third. From that point, he patiently waited through a pair of restarts and passed Chris Dyson on the inside on Lap 19 to take the TA lead. “We really had a dominant car out there today,” said the 23-year-old seven-time champion. “The car felt like it was on rails the whole race. We got up to the leaders and worked our way by them. I was able to run a nice, steady pace and pull away from them. Hopefully, we can take the momentum to the next one at Watkins Glen.” Incredibly, it was Francis’ first victory of the season in seven attempts. That upped his career total to 24 wins in TA – and his 47th including his 23 class triumphs. “It’s been so tough – we’ve been waiting so long for this win,” Francis said. “We’ve been struggling all year long. We had so many opportunities earlier in the season, but it just didn’t go our way. I’m so happy we could go from the back to win this. It’s been a great weekend so far. I finished off the SRX season last night and got second in the championship.” Fast qualifier Tomy Drissi (No. 8 Lucas Oil Chevrolet) led the opening 17 laps before being passed on a restart by Dyson and Francis. Drissi held on to take second, 19.219 seconds behind Francis. Dyson (No. 20 CDR ALTWELL CBD Ford Mustang) passed Drissi to lead a lap before losing the position to Francis. He was running second directly behind Francis when he spun off on lap 24, dropping to 15th in the combined field (with TA2). Dyson then worked his way back to finish third overall, 53.585 seconds behind Francis. (Thank you to Trans Am Media)
INDYCAR and NBC Sports announced a multiyear extension of their media rights agreement. From the Press Release:
NBC Sports will continue to be the exclusive home of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge – “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” – and will provide coverage of all NTT INDYCAR SERIES races, qualifying, practices and Indy Lights races across its linear, digital and streaming platforms, including Peacock. Financial terms were not disclosed. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES will see a significant increase in network exposure in 2022, with 13 races broadcast on NBC. USA Network and Peacock Premium will show the remaining races. Telemundo Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage of the season-opening race, the Indianapolis 500 and the season finale. Peacock will stream all races on NBC and USA Network and will continue as the streaming home of NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying and practices sessions, Indy Lights races and full-event replays. Peacock will stream two races exclusively, which will be announced at a later date.
The media rights extension comes on the heels of viewership milestones for NBC Sports' coverage of both the Indianapolis 500 and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on NBC was the most-watched edition of the race since the 100th Running in 2016, and NBC Sports is off to its most-watched NTT INDYCAR SERIES season ever through the first nine races of 2021, with viewership up 30% vs. comparable coverage in 2020. The full 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES coverage schedule on NBC, USA Network and Peacock will be announced in the coming months. All coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will be available on Peacock Premium. Viewers can sign up and learn more here. Peacock is currently available across devices; more details here. Peacock Premium is included at no additional cost for Comcast’s eligible Xfinity X1 and Flex customers and Cox Contour customers.
(Chris Owens/Indianapolis Motor Speedway)
A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears, the first race car drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 four times, have been photographed together many times over the years, including a famous session for the cover of the event’s official program in 2013. But with each passing year, it seemed those images might stand as a permanent reflection of Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s most prestigious club. After all, 29 races were held following Mears’ fourth “500” in 1991, and while a few drivers earned their second win during that time, only Helio Castroneves and Dario Franchitti notched a third. Franchitti ran his last “500” in 2013, the year after scoring victory No. 3. With so much parity in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and Castroneves turning 46 prior to this year’s race and switching teams – from Team Penske to Meyer Shank Racing – the odds of him winning a fourth didn’t seem as good as they had been in years past. But when Castroneves held off Alex Palou for the victory in the 105th Running on May 30, everyone knew a new gathering of “The Club” needed to take place. That meeting was held Tuesday (7/20) in Indianapolis. And yes, plenty of new photographs were taken. IMS photographer Chris Owens said he literally took thousands, more than he’d take on a normal race day. Castroneves has experienced a wide range of emotions in the two months since wildly celebrating on the front straightaway, but spending the day with Foyt, Unser and Mears made it all the more magical. “What else can I say, these guys since I’ve been here, they’ve been the standard of Indianapolis,” he said with the legends sitting to his left at an IMS conference table overlooking the track. “I’ve always been looking after those guys. For me, I still can’t believe it. Every time I’m with them it blows my mind. They helped me to set the goals, and I really pushed for it.” Castroneves struggled to put in words what winning the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge means to him. Saying it put him in “cloud nine” doesn’t do it justice, he said. “I think 10 or 11, whatever clouds you can put above, I’m still there,” he said. Castroneves even gathered a winner’s ring from each driver, lining them up on the table to be photographed. “Mine is the one still shaking,” he said. “It’s too excited.” Mears, who was Castroneves’ spotter for his first three wins here, seemed to smile with every word the Brazilian spoke, particularly those made out of respect to the legends he has joined. “I kind of know how he’s feeling because I’ve heard him say a little bit about it,” Mears said. “When I won my fourth, to get up here with two of my heroes, even though the (number of Indy wins) were the same, I was still not in their category. To be with them was incredible, and I’m pretty sure Helio feels the same way.” Said Unser: “It’s nice to be called a hero.” Castroneves asked the other drivers what to expect as a four-time winner. As usual, Foyt was the most blunt. “No different than if you win it once,” he said. “You got your first one; that’s what counts.” The significance of the gathering of Indy legends can’t be understated. Even in motorsports, where speed is the ultimate pursuit, time waits for no one. Foyt is 86, Unser 82, Mears 69. All three have attended fewer INDYCAR races with each passing year. Track president Doug Boles noted that 784 drivers have started the “500” and only 20 have won it more than once.
A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears, the first race car drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 four times, have been photographed together many times over the years, including a famous session for the cover of the event’s official program in 2013. But with each passing year, it seemed those images might stand as a permanent reflection of Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s most prestigious club. After all, 29 races were held following Mears’ fourth “500” in 1991, and while a few drivers earned their second win during that time, only Helio Castroneves and Dario Franchitti notched a third. Franchitti ran his last “500” in 2013, the year after scoring victory No. 3. With so much parity in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and Castroneves turning 46 prior to this year’s race and switching teams – from Team Penske to Meyer Shank Racing – the odds of him winning a fourth didn’t seem as good as they had been in years past. But when Castroneves held off Alex Palou for the victory in the 105th Running on May 30, everyone knew a new gathering of “The Club” needed to take place. That meeting was held Tuesday (7/20) in Indianapolis. And yes, plenty of new photographs were taken. IMS photographer Chris Owens said he literally took thousands, more than he’d take on a normal race day. Castroneves has experienced a wide range of emotions in the two months since wildly celebrating on the front straightaway, but spending the day with Foyt, Unser and Mears made it all the more magical. “What else can I say, these guys since I’ve been here, they’ve been the standard of Indianapolis,” he said with the legends sitting to his left at an IMS conference table overlooking the track. “I’ve always been looking after those guys. For me, I still can’t believe it. Every time I’m with them it blows my mind. They helped me to set the goals, and I really pushed for it.” Castroneves struggled to put in words what winning the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge means to him. Saying it put him in “cloud nine” doesn’t do it justice, he said. “I think 10 or 11, whatever clouds you can put above, I’m still there,” he said. Castroneves even gathered a winner’s ring from each driver, lining them up on the table to be photographed. “Mine is the one still shaking,” he said. “It’s too excited.” Mears, who was Castroneves’ spotter for his first three wins here, seemed to smile with every word the Brazilian spoke, particularly those made out of respect to the legends he has joined. “I kind of know how he’s feeling because I’ve heard him say a little bit about it,” Mears said. “When I won my fourth, to get up here with two of my heroes, even though the (number of Indy wins) were the same, I was still not in their category. To be with them was incredible, and I’m pretty sure Helio feels the same way.” Said Unser: “It’s nice to be called a hero.” Castroneves asked the other drivers what to expect as a four-time winner. As usual, Foyt was the most blunt. “No different than if you win it once,” he said. “You got your first one; that’s what counts.” The significance of the gathering of Indy legends can’t be understated. Even in motorsports, where speed is the ultimate pursuit, time waits for no one. Foyt is 86, Unser 82, Mears 69. All three have attended fewer INDYCAR races with each passing year. Track president Doug Boles noted that 784 drivers have started the “500” and only 20 have won it more than once.
(The Petersen Automotive Museum images)
The Petersen Automotive Museum has announced the opening of its first-ever exhibit dedicated solely to Formula 1. “Pole Position: The Juan Gonzalez Formula 1 Collection” will present a varied collection of modern F1 cars surrounded by a 180-degree immersive video conveying the energy of the races in which these cars competed. The ten cars on display will tell the stories of a variety of drivers and manufacturers from three decades of racing. Vehicles on display will include a 1987 Lotus 99T (above), a 1994 Williams FW15D (below), a 1995 McLaren MP4-10, a 1999 Ferrari F399, a 2005 McLaren F1 MP4-20, a 2008 McLaren F1 MP4-24, a 2011 McLaren F1 MP4-26, a 2013 Ferrari F138, a 2017 Scuderia Toro Rosso STR12 and Fernando Alonso's boldly colored 2018 McLaren MCL33. Each vehicle comes from the collection of Juan Gonzalez, Chairman of the Board of Mission Foods, a sponsor of the McLaren F1 team and the Arrow McLaren SP INDY team. “Pole Position: The Juan Gonzalez Formula 1 Collection” will open to the public July 24, 2021, and be on display in the Charles Nearburg Family Gallery until June 5, 2022. For more information, please visit Petersen.org.
The Petersen Automotive Museum has announced the opening of its first-ever exhibit dedicated solely to Formula 1. “Pole Position: The Juan Gonzalez Formula 1 Collection” will present a varied collection of modern F1 cars surrounded by a 180-degree immersive video conveying the energy of the races in which these cars competed. The ten cars on display will tell the stories of a variety of drivers and manufacturers from three decades of racing. Vehicles on display will include a 1987 Lotus 99T (above), a 1994 Williams FW15D (below), a 1995 McLaren MP4-10, a 1999 Ferrari F399, a 2005 McLaren F1 MP4-20, a 2008 McLaren F1 MP4-24, a 2011 McLaren F1 MP4-26, a 2013 Ferrari F138, a 2017 Scuderia Toro Rosso STR12 and Fernando Alonso's boldly colored 2018 McLaren MCL33. Each vehicle comes from the collection of Juan Gonzalez, Chairman of the Board of Mission Foods, a sponsor of the McLaren F1 team and the Arrow McLaren SP INDY team. “Pole Position: The Juan Gonzalez Formula 1 Collection” will open to the public July 24, 2021, and be on display in the Charles Nearburg Family Gallery until June 5, 2022. For more information, please visit Petersen.org.
(WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca)
Two of the most competitive drivers during the glory days of the SCCA Trans-Am series - George Follmer and Parnelli Jones - will be reunited as co-Grand Marshals at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, Aug. 12-15 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The former Trans-Am teammates are scheduled to be honored guests Saturday, Aug. 14 – which includes taking part in the Picnic in the Paddock, where they will participate in a Q&A session with race fans – as well as taking a few honorary laps around the track. Jones is closely associated with the famous No. 15 Bud Moore Engineering Ford Mustang Boss 302, while Follmer was famous for driving the No. 16 Bud Moore Engineering Ford Mustang Boss 302. The two were tough-as-nails competitors who notoriously raced each other hard, even knocking each other off the track more than once. Jones had numerous wins in 1970, en route to capturing the Trans-Am championship that year. Jones also won the 1963 Indianapolis 500 as a driver, and then won it twice as an owner, in 1970-71, with driver Al Unser. He retired with six IndyCar wins and four wins in 34 NASCAR starts, and is inducted into more than 20 Halls of Fame. Follmer was victorious in the SCCA United States Road Racing Championship in 1965, and he won the Trans-Am championship in 1972. Follmer also raced in the USAC Championship Car series in the 1967-1971 and 1974 seasons, with 25 career starts, including the 1969-1971 Indianapolis 500 races. He gathered 11 top-ten finishes, including a 1969 win at Phoenix International Raceway. Follmer won the 1972 Can-Am Championship filling in for an injured Mark Donohue in the No. 6 Penske Racing L&M Porsche 917 Turbo. Follmer also appeared in F1 driving for Don NIchols' UOP Shadow team in 1973. He raced in his first Grand Prix in South Africa at the age of 39 years and 1 month, making him the oldest F1 rookie since the 50s, which is a distinction he still holds. In 13 F1 Championship races, his best results were 6th in South Africa and a podium 3rd in Spain in his first two Grands Prix, which gave him 13th in the Drivers' Championship with five points. He also competed in several non-Championship races.