Olivier Panis announced his retirement from Formula One, ending a 12-year participation in which he had won once in 157 starts. In 1997 he was lying in third in the championship when he crashed in the Canadian Grand Prix, breaking his legs and missing the remainder of the season. He never again featured on the podium, and spent his last two years as a test driver. "It's time for me to move on and fulfil my wish to race again," he said.
2003
Jenson Button was forced to quit testing in Jerez after a high- speed accident when he lost control of his BAR and smashed into a wall. Button suffered bruised knees but the car was beyond repair.
1918
American driver Johnny Mantz was born in Hebron, Indiana. Mantz only ever made one grand prix appearance at the Indianapolis 500, but had 12 NASCAR Grand National starts winning his third NASCAR race, the first Southern 500 held at Darlington Raceway.
