By Peter M. DeLorenzo
Detroit. Front-row qualifiers at any major racing event are usually significant. They represent the quickest drivers at that particular moment in time, at a particular track. From the annals of F1, INDYCAR and Can-Am, to IMSA and beyond, front-row qualifiers are often memorable and help define - and capture - a specific era in motorsport. This week, I am going to begin our coverage with just a few of the races - and the legendary drivers - that spring to mind. There will be many more in the coming weeks.
Bridgehampton, New York, September 17, 1967. Denny Hulme (No. 5 McLaren M6A Chevrolet, pole), Bruce McLaren (No. 4 McLaren M6A Chevrolet) and Dan Gurney (No. 36 All American Racers, Inc. Lola T70 Mk.3B AAR-Weslake Ford) on the Front Row for the Can-Am. Hulme and McLaren finished 1-2, Gurney retired with fuel-injection issues. George Follmer (No. 16 Roger Penske Racing Ent. Sunoco Special Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet) finished third.
Reims-Gueux, France, July 4, 1954. Juan Manuel Fangio (No. 18 Mercedes-Benz 196R, pole), Karl Kling (No. 20 Mercedes-Benz 196R) and Alberto Ascari (No. 10 Maserati 250F) on the Front Row for the French Grand Prix. Fangio and Kling were so dominant in their "streamliner" versions of the Silver Arrows that day that they finished 1-2, a tenth of a second apart, after lapping the field. The Mercedes-Benz 196R "streamliners" were certainly some of the most beautiful racing cars ever built.
Lexington, Ohio, August 22, 1971. Denny Hulme (No. 5 Gulf/Reynolds Aluminum McLaren M8F Chevrolet, pole) and Peter Revson (No. 7 Gulf/Reynolds Aluminum McLaren M8F Chevrolet) on the Front Row for the Mid-Ohio Can-Am. Both McLaren drivers encountered trouble; Hulme DNF and Revson came in seventh. Jackie Stewart (No. 1 Carl Haas Racing L&M Lola T260 Chevrolet) won that day. Jo Siffert (No. 20 STP/Porsche Audi/Marlboro Porsche 917/10 finished second and Tony Adamowicz (No. 54 Auto World McLaren M8B Chevrolet) came in third.
German Grand Prix, The Nurburgring, Nurburg, West Germany, August 6, 1967. Talk about a legendary Front Row: Jim Clark (No. 3 Team Lotus 49 Ford Cosworth DFV, pole), Denny Hulme (No. 2 Brabham Racing Organization Brabham BT24 Repco V8), Jackie Stewart (No. 11 Owen Racing Organization BRM P115 H16) and Dan Gurney (No. 9 Anglo American Racers Eagle T1G Weslake V12). Hulme won, followed by Jack Brabham (No. 1 Brabham Racing Organization Brabham BT24 Repco V8) and Chris Amon (No. 8 Scuderia Ferrari Spa SEFAC Ferrari 312 V12).
(IMS)
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, May 1967. The Front Row for the Indianapolis 500: Mario Andretti (No. 1 Dean Van Lines Hawk/Ford, pole), Dan Gurney (No. 74 All American Racers Wagner Lockheed Brake Fluid Eagle/Ford) and Gordon Johncock (No. 3 Gilmore Broadcasting Gerhardt/Ford). A, J. Foyt (No. 14 Sheraton/Thompson Coyote/Ford) won that year; Al Unser (No. 5 John Mecom Retzloff Chemical Lola/Ford) was second and Joe Leonard (No. 4 Sheraton/Thompson Coyote/Ford) finished third.
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