Two-time Formula One World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi (above, Roger Dixon photo), who also won a pair of Indy 500s and an Indycar National Championship, will be honored by the Road Racing Drivers Club at the “RRDC Evening with Emerson Fittipaldi Presented by Firestone” in Long Beach, California, on Thursday, April 6. The RRDC’s ninth consecutive annual banquet honoring influential auto racing personalities will be held prior to the 43rd Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
The previous honorees have been Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Roger Penske, Jim Hall, Brian Redman, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser and George Follmer. Proceeds from the dinner will help support the RRDC’s young driver initiatives, including its groundbreaking SAFEisFAST.com program and the Team USA Scholarship, which has provided opportunities for talented young American racecar drivers since 1990, and which the RRDC has backed since 1997.
Born in Brazil in 1946, Fittipaldi made his F1 debut for Team Lotus as its third driver at the 1970 British Grand Prix, earning that ride less than 18 months after arriving in Europe to chase his dreams. Following the death of team leader Jochen Rindt, he became Lotus’ #1 driver after only his fourth Grand Prix. He immediately won his fifth GP, at Watkins Glen, securing Rindt’s posthumous crown, and subsequently won the 1972 World Drivers Championship at the age of 25 — at the time F1’s youngest World Champion ever, a record he held for 33 years.
He moved to McLaren in 1974 and won the title once again, but then made what might be called a curious career choice, leaving McLaren to drive a brand new — and totally unproven — car, built in his homeland of Brazil by his brother Wilson and funded by the Brazilian sweetening giant, Copersucar. The project proved challenging, and the uphill battle eventually led him reluctantly to announce his retirement from racing.
At age 33 he appeared to be done, but four years later he made a comeback at the 1984 IMSA Miami Grand Prix. A move into Indycar racing quickly followed, and by the end of the year he was driving for U. E. “Pat” Patrick, with whom he won the 1989 Indy 500 and claimed the season championship. After moving to Marlboro Team Penske, he won another Indy 500 at the age of 46, becoming the third oldest 500 winner ever, behind only Al and Bobby Unser.
“There’s no question that Emerson Fittipaldi is an outstanding champion and personality,” said RRDC President, Bobby Rahal. “He’s not only demonstrated his legendary talents on the F1 and Indycar circuits, he’s also left his mark on IMSA racing. The RRDC is privileged to have such a charismatic honoree, with or without his famous mutton chops.”
The RRDC Evening with Emerson Fittipaldi Presented by Firestone will be held on Thursday, April 6, at the Hilton Hotel, 701 West Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, California, with cocktails at 6 p.m., and dinner at 7:15. Tickets are $200 per person ($175 for RRDC members) if purchased in advance, and space is limited. Sponsor packages are also available. Early reservations are recommended. For complete information please contact Jeremy Shaw at rrdc2@cox.net.
