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Sunday
Apr232023
THE GREAT RACES, PART XIV.
Sunday, April 23, 2023 at 08:57AM By Peter M. DeLorenzo
Detroit. The sport of motor racing is filled with memorable races marked by both triumph and tragedy. It's the nature of the sport that these two extremes have left such an indelible impression that they live on for decades, leaving a legacy that is part and parcel of our collective memories. The many heroic individuals - and individual efforts - that have carved out their place in motorsport history are too often luridly offset by gut-wrenching tragedies that have torn us apart along the way. It is an unfortunate consequence of a sport that consumes everything and everyone in its path, a fevered, relentless pursuit marked by unbridled elation and devastating, soul-crushing disappointment. In this series I will try to avoid dwelling on the tragic stories, because as enthusiasts of this sport we are all too familiar with them. If, in the course of talking about a particular race mentioning a tragic event is unavoidable that will have to be, but this series will mainly focus on those memorable moments from those glory days that rivet us to this day. This week, we're going back to Daytona for the 24-Hour FIA International Manufacturers Championship race.
(Ford Media Archives)
Daytona Beach, Florida, February 5, 1967. An impressive lineup of machines and drivers in formation to take the green flag for the 1967 Daytona 24 Hours. On pole is the No. 3 Shelby American Ford GT Mk II driven by Dan Gurney/A.J. Foyt, with the No. 15 Chaparral 2F Chevrolet driven by Phil Hill/Mike Spence right next to it. In the second row was the No. 26 North American Racing Team Ferrari 412 P driven by Pedro Rodriguez/Jean Guichet and the No. 23 Ferrari 330 P3/4 driven by Chris Amon/Lorenzo Bandini. After these machines came the No. 5 Holman & Moody Ford Mk II of Mario Andretti/Richie Ginther, the No. 24 Ferrari 330 P4 of Mike Parkes/Ludovico Scarfiotti, the No. 1 Shelby American Ford Mk II of Bruce McLaren/Lucien Bianchi, the No. 14 Chaparral 2D Chevrolet of Bruce Jennings/Bob Johnson, the No. 6 Holman & Moody Ford Mk II of Denny Hulme/Lloyd Ruby, the No. 2 Shelby American Ford Mk II of Ronnie Bucknum/Frank Gardner, the No. 33 Ferrari 412 P of Willy Mairesse/Jean Beurlys, the No. 4 Holman & Moody Ford Mk II of Mark Donohue/Peter Revson, and the No. 11 J.W. Automotive Ford GT40 driven by Dr. Dick Thompson/Jacky Ickx. That this was a significant moment in racing was no secret. After being humiliated by Ford's 1-2-3 finish at Le Mans in 1966, Ferrari was out to turn the tables on the Ford juggernaut. It would be a very interesting race.
Detroit. The sport of motor racing is filled with memorable races marked by both triumph and tragedy. It's the nature of the sport that these two extremes have left such an indelible impression that they live on for decades, leaving a legacy that is part and parcel of our collective memories. The many heroic individuals - and individual efforts - that have carved out their place in motorsport history are too often luridly offset by gut-wrenching tragedies that have torn us apart along the way. It is an unfortunate consequence of a sport that consumes everything and everyone in its path, a fevered, relentless pursuit marked by unbridled elation and devastating, soul-crushing disappointment. In this series I will try to avoid dwelling on the tragic stories, because as enthusiasts of this sport we are all too familiar with them. If, in the course of talking about a particular race mentioning a tragic event is unavoidable that will have to be, but this series will mainly focus on those memorable moments from those glory days that rivet us to this day. This week, we're going back to Daytona for the 24-Hour FIA International Manufacturers Championship race.
(Ford Media Archives)Daytona Beach, Florida, February 5, 1967. An impressive lineup of machines and drivers in formation to take the green flag for the 1967 Daytona 24 Hours. On pole is the No. 3 Shelby American Ford GT Mk II driven by Dan Gurney/A.J. Foyt, with the No. 15 Chaparral 2F Chevrolet driven by Phil Hill/Mike Spence right next to it. In the second row was the No. 26 North American Racing Team Ferrari 412 P driven by Pedro Rodriguez/Jean Guichet and the No. 23 Ferrari 330 P3/4 driven by Chris Amon/Lorenzo Bandini. After these machines came the No. 5 Holman & Moody Ford Mk II of Mario Andretti/Richie Ginther, the No. 24 Ferrari 330 P4 of Mike Parkes/Ludovico Scarfiotti, the No. 1 Shelby American Ford Mk II of Bruce McLaren/Lucien Bianchi, the No. 14 Chaparral 2D Chevrolet of Bruce Jennings/Bob Johnson, the No. 6 Holman & Moody Ford Mk II of Denny Hulme/Lloyd Ruby, the No. 2 Shelby American Ford Mk II of Ronnie Bucknum/Frank Gardner, the No. 33 Ferrari 412 P of Willy Mairesse/Jean Beurlys, the No. 4 Holman & Moody Ford Mk II of Mark Donohue/Peter Revson, and the No. 11 J.W. Automotive Ford GT40 driven by Dr. Dick Thompson/Jacky Ickx. That this was a significant moment in racing was no secret. After being humiliated by Ford's 1-2-3 finish at Le Mans in 1966, Ferrari was out to turn the tables on the Ford juggernaut. It would be a very interesting race.
(Getty Images)
Phil Hill and Mike Spence wheeled the No. 15 Chaparral 2F Chevrolet in the 1967 Daytona 24 Hours. Though Hill qualified the machine in second position, an accident caused the team to withdraw the car due to suspension damage.
Phil Hill and Mike Spence wheeled the No. 15 Chaparral 2F Chevrolet in the 1967 Daytona 24 Hours. Though Hill qualified the machine in second position, an accident caused the team to withdraw the car due to suspension damage.
(Getty images)
A Chaparral crew member wields a mean - and giant - torque wrench.
A Chaparral crew member wields a mean - and giant - torque wrench.
(Getty Images)
The No. 15 Chaparral 2F Chevrolet in its pit box at Daytona, February 1967.
The No. 15 Chaparral 2F Chevrolet in its pit box at Daytona, February 1967.
(Getty Images)
The Chaparral 2F Chevrolet was radical from every angle.
The Chaparral 2F Chevrolet was radical from every angle.
(Getty Images)
Chris Amon contributed mightily to Ferrari's win in the 1967 Daytona 24 Hour.
Chris Amon contributed mightily to Ferrari's win in the 1967 Daytona 24 Hour.
(Getty Images)
The winning factory-entered No. 23 Ferrari 330 P3/4 driven by Lorenzo Bandini and Chris Amon in the paddock during practice for the 1967 Daytona 24 Hour.
The winning factory-entered No. 23 Ferrari 330 P3/4 driven by Lorenzo Bandini and Chris Amon in the paddock during practice for the 1967 Daytona 24 Hour.
(Getty Images)
The No. 5 Holman & Moody Ford Mk II driven by Mario Andretti/Richie Ginther on the starting grid for the 1967 Daytona 24 Hour.
The No. 5 Holman & Moody Ford Mk II driven by Mario Andretti/Richie Ginther on the starting grid for the 1967 Daytona 24 Hour.
(Getty Images)
The No. 24 Ferrari 330 P4 driven by Mike Parkes and Ludivico Scarfiotti finished second, looking a little worse for wear.
The No. 24 Ferrari 330 P4 driven by Mike Parkes and Ludivico Scarfiotti finished second, looking a little worse for wear.
(Getty Images)
The No. 1 Shelby American Ford Mk II driven by Bruce McLaren and Lucien Bianchi on Sunday morning. They finished seventh overall.
The No. 1 Shelby American Ford Mk II driven by Bruce McLaren and Lucien Bianchi on Sunday morning. They finished seventh overall.
(Getty Images)
The No. 26 North American Racing Team Ferrari 412 P driven by Pedro Rodriguez/Jean Guichet on the banking at Daytona in 1967. They finished third in the 24 Hour, completing the Ferrari 1-2-3 sweep.
The No. 26 North American Racing Team Ferrari 412 P driven by Pedro Rodriguez/Jean Guichet on the banking at Daytona in 1967. They finished third in the 24 Hour, completing the Ferrari 1-2-3 sweep.
(Getty Images)
Ferrari would get its revenge against Ford at the 1967 Daytona 24 Hours, the "flying formation" 1-2-3 finish being Ferrari's eloquent rebuttal to Ford's dominance of the 24 Hours of Le Mans the year before. The factory-entered No. 23 Ferrari 330 P 3/4 driven by Chris Amon and Lorenzo Bandini finished 1st, the No. 24 Ferrari 330 P4 driven by Mike Parkes/Ludovico Scarfiotti was second, and the No. 26 Ferrari 412 P entered by the North American Racing Team and driven by Pedro Rodriguez/Jean Guichet finished third. Hans Herrmann/Jo Siffert finished 4th in their factory No. 52 Porsche 910, Dieter Spoerry/Rico Steinemann were 5th in their Swiss-entered No. 55 Porsche 906 LH, Dick Thompson/Jacky Ickx (No. 11 Ford GT40) finished 6th, and Bruce McLaren/Lucien Bianchi brought their No. 1 Shelby American Ford Mk II home in 7th. The notable DNFs? The Gurney/Foyt No. 3 Shelby American Ford Mk II suffered a blown engine, the No. 5 Holman & Moody Ford Mk II driven by Mario Andretti/Richie Ginther retired with a broken gearbox, the No. 6 Holman & Moody Ford Mk II of Denny Hulme/Lloyd Ruby also suffered a broken gearbox, and the No. 2 Shelby American Ford Mk II driven by Ronnie Bucknum/Frank Gardner was hit with gearbox failure as well. Ferrari's victory celebration was short-lived, because Ford would come back and win the 1967 12 Hours of Sebring with Mario Andretti/Bruce McLaren in their bright yellow No. 1 Ford Mk IV and the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans with Dan Gurney/A.J. Foyt in their bright red No. 1 Ford Mk IV. The Ford Mk IVs would win the only two races they were ever entered in.
Ferrari would get its revenge against Ford at the 1967 Daytona 24 Hours, the "flying formation" 1-2-3 finish being Ferrari's eloquent rebuttal to Ford's dominance of the 24 Hours of Le Mans the year before. The factory-entered No. 23 Ferrari 330 P 3/4 driven by Chris Amon and Lorenzo Bandini finished 1st, the No. 24 Ferrari 330 P4 driven by Mike Parkes/Ludovico Scarfiotti was second, and the No. 26 Ferrari 412 P entered by the North American Racing Team and driven by Pedro Rodriguez/Jean Guichet finished third. Hans Herrmann/Jo Siffert finished 4th in their factory No. 52 Porsche 910, Dieter Spoerry/Rico Steinemann were 5th in their Swiss-entered No. 55 Porsche 906 LH, Dick Thompson/Jacky Ickx (No. 11 Ford GT40) finished 6th, and Bruce McLaren/Lucien Bianchi brought their No. 1 Shelby American Ford Mk II home in 7th. The notable DNFs? The Gurney/Foyt No. 3 Shelby American Ford Mk II suffered a blown engine, the No. 5 Holman & Moody Ford Mk II driven by Mario Andretti/Richie Ginther retired with a broken gearbox, the No. 6 Holman & Moody Ford Mk II of Denny Hulme/Lloyd Ruby also suffered a broken gearbox, and the No. 2 Shelby American Ford Mk II driven by Ronnie Bucknum/Frank Gardner was hit with gearbox failure as well. Ferrari's victory celebration was short-lived, because Ford would come back and win the 1967 12 Hours of Sebring with Mario Andretti/Bruce McLaren in their bright yellow No. 1 Ford Mk IV and the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans with Dan Gurney/A.J. Foyt in their bright red No. 1 Ford Mk IV. The Ford Mk IVs would win the only two races they were ever entered in.
(Getty Images)
Lorenzo Bandini and Chris Amon triumphant in Victory Lane after winning the 1967 Daytona 24 Hours by three laps in their factory-entered No. 23 Ferrari 330 P3/4.
Lorenzo Bandini and Chris Amon triumphant in Victory Lane after winning the 1967 Daytona 24 Hours by three laps in their factory-entered No. 23 Ferrari 330 P3/4.
Editor's Note: You can access previous issues of AE by clicking on "Next 1 Entries" below. - WG