Racing series wide open

Press, 2 September 1980, Page 36

Racing series wide open

NZPA-Reuter Zandvoort, the Netherlands With just three more races scheduled in this year’s World Formula One motor racing championship the only thing certain is that there will be a new name on the driver’s victory roll at the end of the season; Australia’s Alan Jones, 11 points clear of the Brazilian Nelson Piquet, before yesterday’s Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, appeared to -be heading for his first title after taking a clear early lead in the race. . However, Jones left officials of his Saudi-backed Williams car in a bitter mood after mistiming a bend and badly

damaging a side panel of his car. It took mechanics two laps to fix, and despite storming his way back through the field the 33-year-old Jones could finish no higher than eleventh.

Piquet, who succeeded the Austrian former World Champion, Niki Lauda, as chief driver with the Brabham team, took full advantage of his rival’s slip-up moving from fifth place on the starting grid to the front on the twelfth lap and staying there until the chequered flag. ReneAmoux of France in the No 1 turbocharged Renault,' which began the 72lap event in pole position, finished runner-up almost 13 seconds behind Piquet after

overtaking, his compatriot, Jacques Laffite, driving a Ligier, on the penultimate lap. Piquet now based in England, earned nine points for what was only his second Formula One victory to slash the gap between himself and Jones to a slender two points. r The remaining three world championship races are at Imola,'ltaly, Watkins Glen, in the United States, and in Montreal Canada, but there is still a slight doubt about whether the U.S. Grand Prix will go ahead because of a row over safety arrangements.

• Piquet, a 28-year-old whose parents wanted him to be a tennis player, refused to yield to euphoria despite closing on

Jones. *Td sooner be two points ahead of 'him than behind him at ithis stage of the season,” was hislaconic postrace comment. •

Third in the drivers’ standings after 11 events with 33 points- is. Carlos Reutemann of Argentina, who salvaged some honour for the Williams team by finishing fourth on this blustery seaside circuit. Amoux' is fourth with 32 points. . ■■ ;<■

' None of 'the-leading bunch has won a world Formula One title. The defending champion, ■Jody-Schekter, of - Spilth Africa, who will retire at the end of this season, has scored only two grand-prix, points in his Ferrari.!, .