A year after his dramatic title triumph in Fuji, James Hunt returned to the scene of his greatest achievement in the sport to win the Japanese Grand Prix. Hunt took the lead from the front row and never looked back, winning from Carlos Reutemann and Patrick Depailler as pole-sitter Mario Andretti crashed out on the second lap. The major talking point of the race, however, occurred on lap six when Gilles Villeneuve missed his braking point and piled into the back of Ronnie Peterson's Tyrrell. Villeneuve's Ferrari cartwheeled off the track and broke up, sending chunks of debris raining down on spectators like shrapnel. Although Villeneuve escaped miraculously unhurt, one spectator and a marshal were killed instantly and seven other spectators injured.
1966
John Surtees won the Mexican Grand Prix from Jack Brabham and Denny Hulme but the race was academic as Brabham had already sewn up the title at the Italian Grand Prix two races previously. Former Williams driver Alessandro Zanardi was also born on this day. A larger than life character with an infectious personality, Zanardi made his F1 debut for Jordan in 1991 before a season as a test driver for Benetton the following year. Two years with Lotus followed before he moved to America for three highly profitable years in Indy car, winning the title in 1997 and 1998. It led to a drive with Williams in 1999 but it proved a disaster with not a point to show for his efforts. In 2001 he lost both legs in a horrific Indy car race in Germany but he is now walking again and has even won a touring car round in a specially adapted car.
1993
Innes Ireland died in Reading, Berkshire from cancer at the age of 63. One of the sport's great characters, Ireland did not start racing seriously until 1957, by which time he was 27. Ireland competed in 53 grands prix from 1959-1966 and famously gave Lotus its first victory and his only win at Watkins Glen in 1961 from eighth on the grid. After retiring he became sports editor of Autocar for a year before leaving to compete in the London-Sydney Rally. At the time of his death he was President of the British Racing Drivers Club.
