7 replies to this topic

[P0wderf1nger]

I've just finished reading David Tremayne's book on Jochen Rindt.

Something that comes across, most frequently in the chapter on his 1969 Tasman campaign, is how often he fluffed his starts.
NZ GP: front row but pole man Amon got the jump on him
Rothmans Intl qualifying race: 'The Austrian got caught out at the start of the qualifying race when his pole position was wasted'
Rothmans Intl main race: pole, but 'again, Amon got a better start'
Lady Wigram Trophy preliminary race: 'Jochen again made a bad start'
Australian GP: 'Jochen made a terrible start'

I haven't checked back throught the preceding chapters, but I notice that 'he fudged his start' in the 1970 S African GP, and that he started from pole in Austria that year but got away fourth.

So, was he just getting used to the Cosworth during the '69 Tasman series? Was Amon a particularly good starter, or the Ferrari nippier off the line? In the days when overtaking was easier, did a good start not matter so much? Or was Rindt genuinely tardy leaving the grid on occasion?

Rgds

Paul

[Tim Murray]

I think your theory about getting used to the Cosworth is probably right. I've looked through the Autosport F1 race reports for 1968-69-70, and these are the only times Rindt's starts (good or bad) are commented upon:

1968 South African GP: ‘Rindt shot through from the second row to take an early lead’

1968 Belgian GP: ‘Rindt had made a terrific start’

1968 Dutch GP: ‘Rindt made the best start from the middle of the front row’

1969 Int Trophy: ‘Both Stewart and Rindt made good starts from their lowly grid positions’

1969 Spanish GP: ‘From pole position Jochen Rindt made a superb start’

1969 German GP: ‘Stewart, Rindt and Siffert made superb starts’

1970 Belgian GP: ‘Rindt and Amon made the best starts’

According to Autosport he didn't get away fourth in the 1970 Austrian GP. He was beaten off the line by Regazzoni, and then passed by Ickx part way round the first lap. On the next lap he had a moment on the oil spread when Cevert's March blew up, which dropped him several more places, but then worked his way back up to fourth before his own engine blew.

Edited by Tim Murray, 10 January 2011 - 01:39.

[jj2728]

Here he starts from pole, gets off the line and at the first turn is 4th then subsequently by the second chicane is 2nd behind Ickx.
http://www.youtube.c...feature=related

[Ray Bell]

I don't think anyone headed him off the grid at the Farm in '69...

Frank Gardner headed him at the start of the Lakeside race... from the next row of the grid... so that was no perfect start for Jochen. Then when we look at the report on the Farm meeting he was headed!

Amon beat him off the grid again. It wasn't until down Hume Straight that Jochen got ahead.

[Stephen W]

Here he starts from pole, gets off the line and at the first turn is 4th then subsequently by the second chicane is 2nd behind Ickx.
http://www.youtube.c...feature=related

I don't think he was that fussed about being in the lead at Hockenheim in 1970 - certainly not on the first lap. If you look at the lap charts he led on only a handful of laps the most important one being as he crossed the line at the end of the race.

[MCS]

I haven't read the Rindt book (yet) - it will be a birthday present. But it's a good question you ask.

He was virtually unbeatable in Formula Two - how were his starts viewed in those races, I wonder?

[bschenker]

It could be that the start depending on the selected gear ratio. In the F2's starts were usually good. At that time the start was not the one and all, you could still overtac the other competitors.

.

[P0wderf1nger]

Tim: many thanks for going through your Autosports like that. Maybe it was something specific just to the '69 Tasman Series.

MCS: If I had Tim's commitment, I'd go back through the book and see at what point (and I'm sure it came before the Tasman chapter) I first identified what I thought might be a pattern. But I haven't, and besides I want to crack on and re-read Pruller's book on Rindt now! So when you do read the Tremayne book (and many happy returns in advance), I'd be interested to know if you spot it earlier.

Rgds

Paul