Brazil It has a very rich history Formula 1 with 31 drivers, 101 wins and eight world titles. Chico Landi started the trail in the 1950s and the position was taken up by some youngsters in the 1970s: Emerson Fittipaldi, Wilson Fittipaldi and Carlos Pace.
Emerson was the most prominent of the aforementioned group, taking the honor twice (1972 and 1974). He remained for 11 campaigns in the Maximum and achieved 14 wins and 35 podiums. His brother Wilson did not enjoy as much talent, while Pace made his way despite always being in the shadow of the Fittipaldi family.
The SportingNews features the driver from São Paulo who gives his name to the legendary Brazilian Grand Prix circuit.
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Who was Carlos Pace?
He was born in Sao Paulo in 1944. Carlos Pace He started running as a child and showed his talent from a young age. Already in those years he began his battle against the Fittipaldi: from 1967 to 1969 they couldn’t stop him and became champions of Brazil. In Europe he started his Formula 3 career and was recruited by Frank Williams to become an F2 driver in 1971.
With the Williams March team made his Formula 1 debut in 1972 with March 711 and achieved his first point in his second race, in Spain (6th after starting 16th). That year he finished 5th in Belgium before suffering a series of mechanical problems. This prompted him to move to Surtees the following year. After a bad start he got on the podium in Austria.
In 1974, already with Brabham, a top team at the time, he experienced his best time finishing second in the United States. The following year would come his first and only celebration: he stayed with the Brazilian GP at the Interlago circuit, the one that just today bears his name, taking advantage of the abandonment of Jean-Pierre Jarier, who had 1 in his pocket. This campaign was 3rd in Monaco and 2nd in Great Britain.
Pace was poised for a great 1977 (he had finished second in Argentina) until tragedy crossed his path. On March 18, he died at the age of 32 in an accident with a small plane: the vehicle took off in torrential rain and all three crew members died.
His death mourned Formula 1 and many tributes were paid to him. The largest was that of the Automobile Club of São Paulo, which decided to give its name to the Interlagos circuit.. His remains rest next to the grave of Ayrton Senna, another São Paulo legend who died in 1994 (accident at the San Marino Grand Prix).
The circuit has a capacity of 60,000 spectators and has hosted the Brazilian Grand Prix since 1990, having previously hosted it six times.
