Ferrari Revival Continues

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32396, 8 September 1970, Page 11

Ferrari Revival Continues

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) MONZA (Italy). C. Regazzoni, a Swiss driver in his first season on the Formula I circuit, continued the Ferrari revival with a photo-finish victory in the Italian Grand Prix. But Jochen Rindt. the Austrian driver who was killed during practice for Sunday’s race, remained 20 points ahead in the world championship table. Three races remain and it seems certain that Rindt will be the first posthumous world champion. The Italian Ferraris in the

shadow of their British competitors for the last two years, showed that last month’s victory in the Austrian Grand Prix was no fluke. Only Seconds But it was a desperately close finish as Regazzoni roared ahead of J. Stewart (Britain, March) and the Frenchman J. Beltoise (MatraSimca) with less than 6sec separating the first three. Regazzoni, aged 30, finished second behind his fellow Ferrari driver, J. Ickx (Belgium) in the Austrian Grand Prix—the Italian car’s first world championship triumph since the 1968 French Grand Prix. Ickx, fastest in practice, set the early pace in Sunday’s

race—tenth in the 13-race world championship calendar. He was still ahead after 71.45 miles closely followed by J. Oliver (Britain, 8.R.M.) and Regazzoni. But after 32 laps of the 3.5-mile circuit Ickx was forced to the pits with fuel supply problems. Hulme Fourth D. Hulme (New Zealand. McLaren-Ford) took over the lead, but could only manage fourth place in the final scramble for the line. Regazzoni covered the 243 miles in 1 hour 39 minutes 6.88 seconds at an average of 147.26 miles an hour, a race record. Stewart finished in 1 hour 39 minutes 12.61 sec-

ends, seven-hundreths of a second ahead of Beltoise. J. Brabham (Australia) three times world champion left the road on the same bend where Rindt was killed on Saturday. Brabham was seen walking towards the pit after the accident, apparently unhurt. After the Italian race, Rindt had 45 championship points with Brabham and Stewart, the present champion, equal second with the 25 points.' Hulme was fourth with 24; points, followed by Regazzoni. 21, and Ickx 19. The three remaining races are the Canadian. United i States and Mexican grand! prix. i