Best of the Cahier Archive: Emerson Fittipaldi

Submitted by The Cahier Archive on December 18, 20113 Comments

“Emmo” as he was known to his huge legion of fans, was Brazil’s first Formula One World Champion.

With two World Championships, 14 wins and six pole positions, Fittipaldi paved the way for future South American greats and sparked a passion for Formula 1 that continues in Brazil today.

Fittipaldi finished sixth in the drivers championship in his first full F1 season in 1971 and then stormed to the Championship in 1972, taking five wins in the Lotus 72. In doing so he became the sports youngest world champion at the age of 25 years and 273 days. The record would stand until Fernando Alonso won the 2005 title, and then was lowered again by Sebastian Vettel in 2010.

Fittipaldi left Lotus at the end of 1973 to sign with the promising McLaren team. Driving the highly efficient McLaren M23, Emmo took three victories and four podiums to claim his second drivers championship in 1974

At the height of his powers Fittipaldi shocked everyone by leaving McLaren to race for older brother Wilson Fittipaldi’s Copersucar-sponsored Fittipaldi Automotive team in 1976 . He remained with the team for five very lean seasons, with a best finish of second, and retired from Formula 1 at the end of 1980.

Jay Puskenalis

Slap your son-in-law, Tatiana’s husband, Massamiliano (Max) just because you can. Does that mean that your grandson has a chance to drive for the Scuderia in about 18 years? Merry Christmas, ( Bon Natale) to you all. Working safety at Watkins with RCA in the ’70′s, and watching Max with the 333SP here at Road Atlanta, watching him in NASCAR taxi cabs and seeing the family at the grocery store in Oakwood, it’s been fun watching your family grow. Best wishes and cheers. I’ve spent 32 seasons watching the Fittipaldi family have fun. BTW: Happy birthday, Emerson….December 12th.
David Leeke

Emmo, another of the great breed of South Americans that gave us, “World Champions” to Adore, an Mourn.
http://jeffdownerbailbonds.com Jeff Downer Indianapolis

I watched Emerson’s Formula One days from a distance but was able to view his second act with Indy cars here in America up close.

It was a pleasure and he certainly earned a new fan base in North America.