Friday, August 29, 2008

Phil Hill: First American F1 Champion has died

Quoted and edited from Autosport.com:

"Motor racing legend and the only American-born Formula One world champion Phil Hill has died tonight in a California hospital due to complications from Parkinson's disease. He was 81 years old.

Phil Hill won the world championship driving for Ferrari in 1961, becoming the first American to do so, later to be followed only by Mario Andretti. But Hill remains to date the only native-born American to win the title."

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo paid tribute to 1961 world champion Phil Hill saying he will miss the American's passion and love for the Italian marque. In a statement issued shortly after news broke of Hill's passing, di Montezemolo said: "I, as well as all employees of Ferrari, am extremely saddened by the news of the passing of Phil Hill, a man and a champion who gave so much to Ferrari and who has always greatly represented the company's values inside and outside the racing track."



Rest in Peace.

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