BNica
09-11-04, 03:37 AM
Wow, this is already the fifth anniversary. I guess at the time I took this fairly hard, because I had been tracking his career, as well as JPM's in Europe for a while.
Five years ago, on September 11, 1999 promising young Uruguayan racer, Gonzalo Rodriguez lost his life at Laguna Seca.
Gonzalo, known as 'Gonchi' by his fans, had started out in the European F1 ladder system, winning championships in British and European Formula Renault. He then went on to British F3, where eh scored a win and several podiums, before switching teams and series due to finance issues.
It was truly in F3000 where he made his mark in a talented field that included the likes of fellow South American, Juan Pablo Montoya and Nick Heidfeld.
In his first real season, 1998 he placed third in the Championship, with wins at Spa and the Nurburgring, as well as several podiums.
In 1999 he followed that up by winning in Monaco, and was actually lying second in the points despite having missed the Magny Cours round.
It was these succeses that caught the eye of Roger Penske, who gave him a ride for the Vancouver Indy. In his CART debut he was 12th ahead of Little Al. Penske kept him on for Laguna Seca where he met his tragic end.
Uruguay is a nation that is known more for its world class Footbal (Soccer) stars than for its drivers, unlike next door Argentina. But Gonchi's skills and exploits, as well as his personality, endeared him to many fans in his country. He was known as being very personable, being well liked by fans and fellow drivers alike. Autosport described him as the type of guy who would kick back and have beers after the race, and whose style seemed suited to make him a star in the US.
His funeral was attended by tens of thousands of mourners in Uruguay, where he was given a hero's send-off by his countrymen. Today Uruguay has dedicated a stamp to him.
http://www.gonzalorodriguez.org/imagenes/picg_historia.jpg
Five years ago, on September 11, 1999 promising young Uruguayan racer, Gonzalo Rodriguez lost his life at Laguna Seca.
Gonzalo, known as 'Gonchi' by his fans, had started out in the European F1 ladder system, winning championships in British and European Formula Renault. He then went on to British F3, where eh scored a win and several podiums, before switching teams and series due to finance issues.
It was truly in F3000 where he made his mark in a talented field that included the likes of fellow South American, Juan Pablo Montoya and Nick Heidfeld.
In his first real season, 1998 he placed third in the Championship, with wins at Spa and the Nurburgring, as well as several podiums.
In 1999 he followed that up by winning in Monaco, and was actually lying second in the points despite having missed the Magny Cours round.
It was these succeses that caught the eye of Roger Penske, who gave him a ride for the Vancouver Indy. In his CART debut he was 12th ahead of Little Al. Penske kept him on for Laguna Seca where he met his tragic end.
Uruguay is a nation that is known more for its world class Footbal (Soccer) stars than for its drivers, unlike next door Argentina. But Gonchi's skills and exploits, as well as his personality, endeared him to many fans in his country. He was known as being very personable, being well liked by fans and fellow drivers alike. Autosport described him as the type of guy who would kick back and have beers after the race, and whose style seemed suited to make him a star in the US.
His funeral was attended by tens of thousands of mourners in Uruguay, where he was given a hero's send-off by his countrymen. Today Uruguay has dedicated a stamp to him.
http://www.gonzalorodriguez.org/imagenes/picg_historia.jpg