Comments on: Doubt over facts of Villeneuve-Pironi row

By: Rob van der Kroon

Rob van der Kroon — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:43:48 +0000

As mentioned above……it WAS a race until the yellow turbo of Renoux was blown.
Mindfull of typical racestyle of Gilles, he definetely was off the pace and did not defending his raceline at all.

Most drivers agreed Didier stole the race and backstabbed Gilles.

Gilles was the last romantic racedriver, honoring certain race codes.
Like the great Fangio said….Gilles belonged to the 50, 60 or early 70 ties.
Had this great man not be so naive…..he probably would have lived.

By: Alejandro Lanza

Alejandro Lanza — Sun, 15 May 2011 16:36:47 +0000

I just watched this race in full yesterday, unfortunately narrated in German which i don’t speak, but i was surprised when i saw Gilles wasn’t on the truck they got on after the race was over and thought he was angry at being passed in the last lap. Having said that, i don’t understand why people don’t mention the fact that the Ferraris fought Arnoux for a long time during the race, and while doing that both Pironi and Gilles were able to at points get ahead but Arnoux was also able to reclaim first place, so at no point were the Ferraris able to run into the distance. I understand people saying Gilles didn’t pull away from Pironi due to fuel/reliability concerns, but not pulling away from Arnoux, and in fact being overtaken by both him and Pironi is to me proof that things weren’t as clear cut as the Gilles supporting side wants them to be. During the 3 way duel there were several overtakes going into Tossa, and Pironi’s final one was probably the more spectacular one and i can’t see Gilles being surprised by it as it followed the established pattern during that race of cars following each other throught the main straight and then getting side by side through Tamburello, that move had been seen too many times in that race to say there were any elements of surprise. Anyways, it seems to me it was a very nice race and was well fought til the end, i’m surprised to read Gilles’ declarations.

By: Johannes Essink

Johannes Essink — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 10:48:41 +0000

Hi there Rob…
That Imola race was a race until René Arnoux had his engine failure… The only pilots fighting for the lead up to that point were Gilles & René… The remaining laps to the finish was a farce!!! Gilles had added in 1982 race intelligence to his unbelievable speed and from the moment René was out, he only tried to control the 35sec. lead over Michele Alboretto’s Tyrrell on P3… To save fuel and not risking also an engine failure was first priority for Scuderia Ferrari and Gilles… Only lifting the pedal gave Didier a chance! And Didier knew, that he wasn’t the faster of them, so he had to play the unfair betrayel game with the always straight and open minded teammate Gilles Villeneuve!!! If Gilles had an idea, what Didier was planning, he’ll never gave him the chance to attack by simply outpacing him and stay a couple of seconds in front…

By: Keith Collantine

Keith Collantine — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 10:22:40 +0000

It was the last issue of F1 Racing.

By: Simon Stiel

Simon Stiel — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 09:41:40 +0000

Pardon me for asking but where was John Hogan quoted from?

Thank you.

By: Keith Collantine

Keith Collantine — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 15:13:27 +0000

"Bad blood at Maranello" is where the above quote is taken from, that's reproduced in Inside Formula 1.

By: Rob van der Kroon

Rob van der Kroon — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:58:00 +0000

furthermore, at the moment of the the “slow” instruction from the pits, Gilles was leading and these team orders can only be interpreted as holding position. how can you obey “slow” orders when your team mate is maintaining pace or even racing? So Pironi’s story does not make sense and consists of lies (engine problems). rightly so, gilles claim on victory was justified and his honesty, his loyalty made him to be stunned and bittered by this betrayal. That Gilles died as a bitter man is the most tragic aspect of his death

For the complete story of this tragic event and the fall out of it, one should read Nigel Roebucks “Bad blood at Maranello” in which Gilles provides a highly accurate reproduction of the last famous laps and leaves you to decide. Apart from the facts, everyone who red the biography of the legendary race driver knows who speaks the truth.

By: Rob van der Kroon

Rob van der Kroon — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:07:15 +0000

Hogan is speaking nonsense. There was no 1-2 agreement between both drivers but Gilles clearly earned the race in Imola

The following facts speak for themselves:
1) Gilles was not racing at all in the end and clearly did not defend himselves (we all know the way Gilles was racing). Both drivers were instructed to keep eye on fuel in Ferrari’s home race. Gilles clearly obeyed, evidenced by lap times , Didier simply not thus stole the race in a very poor and cheap way
2) Gilles proved to be the quickest of both for major part of the race (as usual)and qualified more than a second faster (as usual
3) Gilles is recognized of one of the most passionate, honorable and unpolitical racing drivers. After 2 weeks, he still did not came down from this injustice, especially the back stab of Puccicini. I think this betrayal played a certain part in Gilles tragic death.

Honestly speaking, I can’t feel any symphathy for Pironi…Dio perdonas…Gilles no.

By: Nathan Jones

Nathan Jones — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 08:27:42 +0000

i think the only ppl that have a real good idea is the drivers themselves and sadly they are both gone.
but from what i understand at the time gilles crashed he was desperate to beat pironi’s time, as if to prove a point.
thats how i read it
either view u take, it’s a tragic tale

By: Journeyer

Journeyer — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 03:47:39 +0000

Nah, I don’t think we should ask. Not really in good taste. If they have anything to share, they should share it on their own.

Besides, would anyone really admit anything?