A Race Across Time-A Unique Approach to a Hypothetical F1 All-Star Race

Greetings and welcome to the third edition of The Slipstream.  As promised, this week will feature two editions of the Slipstream, in honor of the Moncao Grand Prix.  I would like to thank everybody who has either read and or commented on my articles so far and appreciate the very constructive and thoughtful input so far.

This week I am going to present to you a hypothetical "All-Star" race from across the decades of F1, both pre-and post war drivers.  I would like to point out that this article, just like my others, is intended to be fun and stimulating.  I am prepared to take alot of flak for this attempt, but hope it does not become cynical and personal. As another disclaimer, all the cars involved will be assumed to have identical capabilities, DESPITE the era in which they were constructed.  The pole sitter's car is the benchmark for all the others on the grid. 

The track for this historic race has been selected by the FIA to be the modern Monza circuit. This circut promises excellent chances to over take, along with a chance to see and hear the exhaust notes at their loudest and most robust volume.  The television and on track commentary will be done by the legend, Murray Walker, who will be joined for television by Bob Varsha and Steve Matchett from SPEED Channel's F1 coverage.  

As the helicopter shot of the Monza facility pulls back and zooms in on the activity on the grid, the lens captures the flag's of the participating driver nationalities, snapping and waving in the perfect mid-day Italian sunshine.  As expected, the grand stands are packed to the limits, with Ferrari, Lotus, Mercedes, Auto Union, Renault, flags displayed like the battle flags of old.  

With the race support mechanics in place, the muted roars of 18 Formula One engines pull the ears and eyes of all who are present and watching on television to the start finish line as the pole sitter, seven time World Champion Michael Schumacher, brings his scarlet Ferrari F2004 to a halt just a eyelash from the feet of the grid girl standing with the German flag.  A slight rumble from the Cosworth DFV engine in Jim Clark's dominating Lotus 49 mixes with the low pitch idle of Schumacher's V10 Ferrari as the Scotsman brings his car to a halt in the #2 position. 

Trying hard to force heat into the tires of his Maserati 250F, Juan Manuel Fangio slides his gloved hands across the wheel, eventually easing the Italian made racer behind Schumacher's Ferrari.  He removes his eye protection and allows the view of the modern car in front of him to soak in, still amazed at what F1 has become. As Fangio begins to pull his attention back to the race ahead of him, he is soon flanked by the McLaren Honda MP/4-5 of Ayrton Senna.  Senna idles the McLaren and lets go of the wheel for a slight second, pulling his weathered gloves tight across his hands. 

Senna looks into the mirror only to see the white and blue helmet of Alain Prost come into view and assume the 5th position on the starting grid.  Prost looks forward and into the mirrors of his former protoge'.  Intense focus creeps over the man known as "The Professor".  A massive V16 engine gains the attention of all present as the Auto Union of Tazio Nuvolari stops on the grid.  The almost sterling silver finish of the car captures the sun, twisting and bending it across it's impressive body work before reflecting it back into the eyes of those gazing upon it.

Rows 3 and 4 feature the Father/Son duos of the Villeneuves and the Hills.  The Williams FW-19 of Jacques' World Championship season awaits the Ferrari 312 T4 of Enzo Ferrari's most thought of driver.  The #27 Ferrari stops briefly alongside the Williams and Gilles flips up his clear visor.  With a brief nod the message is sent and the challenge made to Jacques to finally live fully up to his famous surname.  As the sun shifts itself in the sky the Ferrari gives off a unique silhouette. In an ironic twist of fate, Jacques is now literally parked in his father's shadow on the grid. Gilles was favored to win the pole for this race, had it not been for a slight spin exiting one of the chicanes. 

The father son duel continues as Damon Hill stops his FW-18, an almost identical car to 1997 World Champion Jacques, behind the Ferrari 312 T4.  The Lotus 49 of father Graham Hill rolls to a halt, it's driver giving a tight smirk in Damon's direction and at the sight of two generations of families line up together to prove who is the best on track.

Row 5 features the two youngest drivers to win the world championship.  The bright blue and yellow machine of Fernando Alonso slides it's way across the grid as Fernando attempts to force as much heat into the front tires of the Michelin shod Renault R25.  Only the second "modern" F1 car on the grid is now matched up against the black and silver John Player Special Lotus 72 of Emerson Fittipaldi.  The black and red striped helmet of the Brazilian tilts over to look upon the driver who beat him for the title of "youngest driver to win a world champion". 

At the head of Row 6 is the only American born driver to win the World Championship.  The fanatical tfolsi rise in applause as Phil Hill brings his Ferrari 156 " shark nose" to it's starting positon.  Starting next to Hill is Italian born but American raised Mario Andretti in his Lotus 79, another car bathed in the colors of the famous black and gold John Player Special livery.  Andretti looks to his left as the American flag waves next to the tri-colors of Italy, a symbolic event and one not easy to forget. 

The sounds of the 70s shatter the grid as the Ferrari 312T of Austrian, Niki Lauda stops next to the Cosworth DFV powered Tyrell 003 of Scotsman, Jackie Stewart.  Lauda's signature helmet blends in with the Ferrari scarlet where as Stewart's white helmet, lined with the Stewart family tartan breaks up the blue and black livery of his Tyrell. 

Row 8 features a stark contrast of equipment.  The green Vanwall 57 of Sir Stirling Moss creeps to it's starting position where again, the sound of Cosworth power announces it's presence as Nelson Piquet, driving his Brabham BT49C.  From the VIP section, Bernie Ecclestone smiles slightly as he tracks the progress of the Brabham onto the starting grid. 

Row 9 features the Cooper T151 of Jack Brabham, the first  rear  engined  Formula One car and  a  machine of landmark design.  Alberto Ascari rounds off the field, having failed to post a time during qualifying in his Ferrari 500. 

After several minutes of checks and re-checks, the mechanics clear the grid as the pace lap begins.  As the tire smoke and engine noise clears the Mercedes Benz safety car, driven by touring car ace, Bernd Maylander trails this timeless grid as it comes around to the start finish line once more.  Maylander halts the Mercedes at a safe distance.  FIA Sporting Director Charlie Whiting gives the OK for the countdown to begin.  The start lights glow with a bright amber as they vanish one by one, until the flood of noise, brought together across time revs to their allowed levels. 

The lights drop and Schumacher leads into turn one...

The rest of the race is up to you, the reader.