5 replies to this topic

[Formula Once]

Every book and article written about the 1970 F1 world championship seems to ignore the fact that, after Rindt was killed at Monza, with 3 races to go not only Jacky Ickx found himself in the terrible position of still being able to score more points than Jochen's 45, also Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart and Denny Hulme could still do so. Stewart, in his new and promising Tyrrell, even very much looked like winning the Canadian GP until lap 33, when a stub axle broke of his car. Had he won that race, he would have had 34 points with two races to go, rather more than Ickx, who won when Stewart retired and now had 28 points. In his book 'Winning is not enough' Stewart himselfs steers clear of what could have been a horrible dilemma. He does mention him leading the Canadian GP, he only stresses Ickx's chances, something just about everybody else seems to have been doning for the past 40 years. Consequently, a picture has been painted of Stewart trying to defend his best friend's title by trying to defeat Ickx in those final races, but in fact at Mont-Tremblant, he himself looked like the biggest threat to Rindt's title for 30 odd laps. What would have happened had he won?

[jj2728]

Had he won? Well he damned near won at the Glen too. So, my thought is he was trying very hard to win races.

Edited by jj2728, 28 August 2011 - 21:21.

[Emery0323]

Stewart might have had a mathematical chance, but even Ickx was a long-shot that late in the season.

There was speculation in an earlier thread, based on some interviews, that Ickx might have "thrown" the Watkins Glen race, since he felt embarrassed at the prospect of taking the title from a dead man.
http://forums.autosp...showtopic=93703

Stewart was close friends with Rindt, and felt a great personal loyalty to him. He didn't like Ickx (see "Faster" written with Peter Manso). Likely Stewart would have felt the same moral dilemma, only more so?

[David Lawson]

Stewart was close friends with Rindt, and felt a great personal loyalty to him. He didn't like Ickx (see "Faster" written with Peter Manso). Likely Stewart would have felt the same moral dilemma, only more so?

See this month's MotorSport magazine for "Lunch with Jackie Ickx" where he refers to his relationship then and now with Stewart.

David

[Tim Murray]

After Monza Ickx had 19 points and was behind not only the drivers mentioned by Formula Once, (Stewart, Brabham and Hulme) but also his team mate Regazzoni. To become champion Ickx had to win all the last three races. I don’t recall at that time anyone giving serious consideration to Ickx being a possibility for the title, especially considering Ferrari’s poor reliability record. It was only after Canada, when Ickx emerged as the only person who could deny Rindt the title, that the speculation began about Stewart possibly trying to beat Ickx to give his friend Rindt the title etc etc.

[jj2728]

After Monza Ickx had 19 points and was behind not only the drivers mentioned by Formula Once, (Stewart, Brabham and Hulme) but also his team mate Regazzoni. To become champion Ickx had to win all the last three races. I don’t recall at that time anyone giving serious consideration to Ickx being a possibility for the title, especially considering Ferrari’s poor reliability record. It was only after Canada, when Ickx emerged as the only person who could deny Rindt the title, that the speculation began about Stewart possibly trying to beat Ickx to give his friend Rindt the title etc etc.

Good point Tim. I wonder what moral dilemma (if any) it would have posed for Stewart had he won in Canada and at The Glen with regards to snatching the championship from his close friend. Anyhow, I've read that Ickx was relieved in not winning the 1970 title.

USGP 1970


Copyright JAG

Edited by jj2728, 28 August 2011 - 21:51.