Oh, but some great stuff being posted here. TYVM, gents.
Of course, the Monaco 1970 last corner/last lap turnover figures very prominently. That old footage from Panorama is terrific!
I recall the Indy 500 of 2006...just checked to confirm...when Penske driver, Sam Hornish, aced then rookie, Marco Andretti, on the home straight with just a few hundred metres to run. The 2nd closest finish in that event's history. A great steal and a piteous loss all rolled up into one.
And as for a few metres more to work with, Scott Goodyear came up just a few short to pip Al Unser Jr. in the 1992. Breath-taking finish that had me jumping out of my chair!
And here's one for Bob Barg(aka, oldtransamdriver)...
I expect that it was 1966 while taking in the regional event at Mosport that I witnessed a thrilling 'last corner/last lap' drama. In the sedan race, Maurice(Mo)Carter was driving his Carter Chev-Olds Camaro up against Werner Gudzus in the Shanahan Mustang. I can't recall the length of the race...perhaps upwards of 20...but it was sufficient to lay the groundwork for the finish.
Mo lead narrowly for the entire race until 4-5 laps from the end when it became apparent from my vantage point(a home-built platform strung from a tree halfway along the pit straght)that the Camaro was losing front end grip. With each pass through the final corner, Mo was having to crank on more and more steering lock. This allowed Gudzus to plant right on the Mo's tail and press. Last lap and popping over the crest of the back straight, Mo still lead but the Mustang was a virtual shadow to the Camaro. Through T8 and into the esses for the last time. T10...the last corner and with only about 300m to run... Mo has a fierce amount of lock screwed on but the Chev pony car skates wide to drop wheels into the gravel verge. He may have even kissed the earthen berm that lined the corner and pit straight. It may have cost all of half a second's worth of time but it was all Gudzus needed to gun the 'stang by on the right and win by a bonnet's length.
The essence of 'the thrill of victory...the agony of defeat'.
Regretably, both Mo and Werner have passed on. RIP, gents, and thanks for the memories.
Edited by Manfred Cubenoggin, 14 September 2014 - 01:07.