Argentina hosted the first round of the F1 championship, and what was an endurance race in fierce heat - only seven starters finished - was won by Juan Manuel Fangio. It was his first win in a season where he went on to secure the second of his fourth consecutive drivers' titles. It was a gruelling afternoon. Only Fangio and fifth-placed Roberto Mieres drove the entire distance without the help of a co-driver, and even the indestructible Fangio had to make one lengthy stop for drinks and a cool down.
2004
The French Grand Prix returned to the schedule after months of financial wrangling, but not everyone was happy with the decision as it extended the season to 18 races, "the absolute threshold," according to Jaguar boss Tony Purnell.
1996
Michael Schumacher's career with Ferrari got off to an inauspicious start when he escaped uninjured after his Ferrari bounced off a guard rail during a test drive at Fiorano at a speed between 60 and 95mph. Schumacher blamed himself for having forced the pace of the car on a track still covered with frost. On the same day at Estoril, Damon Hill also skidded off in his Williams, and went one better than Schumacher by repeating the trick a day later.
1952
It was through the clinching of deals that Piercarlo Ghinzani, born in Riviera d'Adda, Italy on this day, extended his Formula One career from 1981 to 1989 and 111 races with a points tally of just two... Considering he started in motor racing in 1970, his rise to Formula One was very slow. It took him until 1973 to reach Formula Three. He won the European title in 1977 and moved on to Formula Two. A Formula One ride was clinched in 1981 when he joined Osella, and he stayed with the team until mid-1985 when he crossed over to Toleman, scoring his only points at Dallas in 1984. He was back with Osella in 1986; then Ligier, Zakspeed and Osella - for a third time - before he finally called it a day. On his retirement from driving he became a team owner, running teams in the Italian F3 and F3000 championships, as well as A1 GP.
1937
Luiz Bueno was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil and raced in one F1 event, his home grand prix in 1973, driving a Surtees TS9B where he finished twelfth. He is better known for his long career in Brazil's touring car championship.
