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Jose Froilan Gonzalez, Argentine living glory of motorsport, expressed his joy at the entrance of Jose Maria “Pechito” Lopez to Formula One and predicted it will have “a good performance.” The Buenos Aires, 87, said the Cordoba “deserved to get” the top level car, and he predicted a “good performance” in the competition debut of the event, scheduled for Sunday, March 14, with Grand Prix Bahrain.
Gonzalez spent a great history in motorsports, where in 1951 won the British Grand Prix in Formula 1 and gave the first triumph of the legendary Ferrari brand.
Since then, the Italian house had Froilan as one of its “pilots spoiled, especially by Don Enzo Ferrari himself.
“I’m very happy. I really deserved it Pechito. It gives me great satisfaction. I was with him and I think also a great person. As a runner is barbaric. He won races and championships. It’s a phenomenon,” he told darkfall gold.
“I think there are no problems to join the team (USF1) and brings extensive experience in Formula 1 when tasted Renault cars that came with the Spanish two-time champion Fernando Alonso,” he added.
`Gonzalez` El Cabezon, as his teammates nicknamed him during his campaign in Formula 1 between 1950 and 1957, won the 1954 world runner-up, escorting his friend and pilot best Argentine history: the Balcarce Juan Manuel Fangio, owner five titles in the top flight.
“I’m confident the American team. I was chatting with Peter Windsor and gave me many details of the order that I may say that we can be in the conversation. While you should always keep in mind a phrase that says that` the court, are the pingos, ‘ “smiled who in 1954 also emerged as winner in the traditional competition of 24 hours of Le Mans.
“I have no doubts about the rapid adaptation of the kid. You made many miles and has a great capacity. In Argentina amply demonstrated. Nearly wiped out last year’s three championships in which he participated,” he said, referring Titles Pechito achieved by `CT` 2000 Top Race V6 and the runner-up in Tourism Road.
Froilan also stressed the “general culture” of Lopez: “Speak English, French and Italian. When we went with (Juan Manuel) Fangio did not have such training and made us understand by signs. Well, after all, we were not so bad” completed.
“I’m the only survivor of the early days of Formula 1.` I `retread, but I move on.` I `new battery, bypass and other things”, he said, while winking at the listener.
In a section of the cordial conversation, Gonzalez took the opportunity to remember the support received, at its inception in Formula 1, the Automobile Club Argentino (ACA), the defunct firm Suixtil and collaboration of the former president of the Nation, Lt. Gen. John Peron.
“Along with John (Fangio) we became friends and one day (Peron) asked where we could make a racetrack. We gave her the idea and soon had it constructed in the same place where you are now, on Avenida General Paz Cruz “he added.
“Pepe” as he told his friends, ran 26 Grands Prix, which won 2 over nine seasons between Maserati and Ferrari.
Gonzalez was born in October 1922 in Coral, a city rich in big cars as Angel Lo Valvo, Luis Rubén Di Palma, Julio Perez, Carlos Marincovich Nestor Jesus Garcia Veiga, Norberto Fontana and brothers Patrick, Jose Luis and Marcos Di Palma, among many others. That is called “cradle of champions.”
The former pilot also noted the return to the status of German Michael Schumacher, seven times world champion.
“Within each one of us is the heart and that is ultimately in charge. I do not know what has happened. I remember that I handed him the prize when he won at Monza with Ferrari in 2000. Schumacher won everything, including a lot of money, do not know why again, “he asked.
“I know he apologized to Ferrari fans, but how the fans react when they see it on the track with a Mercedes Benz engine I do not know,” he said.
“You might want to run a car that is in your country, because most show no need to prove anything. In addition silver is not short,” he said.
At 87 years, Froilan still the leader in its exclusive dealership of Fiat Group ( “it was a gift from Cristiano Ratazzi” he confesses), located in the city’s downtown, where he continues to receive greetings and displays of affection on the part of the fans’ nut ‘, which is still surprised to see behind the windows.