José Froilán González (5 October 1922 – 15 June 2013) was an Argentine racing driver, who competed in Formula One between 1950 and 1960. Nicknamed "The Pampas Bull",[b] González was runner-up in the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 1954 with Ferrari, and won two Grands Prix across nine seasons. In endurance racing, González won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1954, also with Ferrari.
José Froilán González | |
|---|---|
 González in 1950 | |
| Born | 5 October 1922 Arrecifes, Argentina |
| Died | 15 June 2013 (aged 90) Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  Argentine |
| Active years | 1950–1957, 1960 |
| Teams | Privateer Maserati, privateer Talbot-Lago, Ferrari, Maserati, Vanwall |
| Entries | 26 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 2 |
| Podiums | 15 |
| Career points | 72 1⁄7 (77 9⁄14)[a] |
| Pole positions | 3 |
| Fastest laps | 6 |
| First entry | 1950 Monaco Grand Prix |
| First win | 1951 British Grand Prix |
| Last win | 1954 British Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1960 Argentine Grand Prix |
| 24 Hours of Le Mans career | |
| Years | 1950–1951, 1953–1954 |
| Teams | Gordini, Talbot-Lago, Lancia, Ferrari |
| Best finish | 1st (1954) |
González is particularly notable for scoring Ferrari's first win in a Formula One World Championship race at the 1951 British Grand Prix. He made his Formula One debut for Scuderia Achille Varzi in the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix. His last Grand Prix was the 1960 Argentine Grand Prix. González competed in 26 World Championship Formula One Grands Prix over nine seasons (1950–1957 and 1960) and numerous non-Championship events.[2] In the 26 World Championship races, González scored two victories (the 1951 British Grand Prix and the 1954 British Grand Prix), seven second-place finishes, six third-place finishes, three pole positions, six fastest laps, and 72 1⁄7 points. He won the 1951 Coppa Acerbo, in 1954 the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Maurice Trintignant, and the Portuguese Grand Prix for Ferrari.
Physically well built, González was nicknamed The Pampas Bull (by his English fans) and El Cabezón (Fat Head, by his Argentine fans). His close friends, like Juan-Manuel Fangio and Roberto Mieres, called him Pepe.
Sixtieth anniversary tribute
edit
On 10 July 2011, during the British Grand Prix meeting, González was honoured by the Ferrari team and the FIA on the 60th anniversary of Ferrari's first Formula One World Championship race victory. As part of the celebration, Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso drove González' Ferrari 375 F1 for four laps of the Silverstone track. Later that day, Alonso won the British Grand Prix in his Ferrari 150º Italia.
Death
editHe died in Buenos Aires from respiratory failure, aged 90, after a downturn in health following a heart attack earlier in 2013.[3][4]
Racing record
editComplete Formula One World Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
* Shared drive.
** Joint fastest lap.
† González started the race in a Ferrari 553 Squalo, but took over one of his teammates' 625 during the race.
Complete Formula One non-championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
1Gonzalez drove the 553 in the heat and the 625 in the final of the 1954 BRDC International Trophy.
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
edit
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 |  Automobiles Gordini
|
Juan Manuel Fangio
|
Simca-Gordini T15S Compresseur | S 3.0 | 95 | DNF (Engine) | |
| 1951 | Henri Louveau
|
Onofre Marimón
|
Talbot-Lago T26 GS | S 5.0 | 128 | DNF (Radiator) | |
| 1953 |  Scuderia Lancia
|
Clemente Biondetti
|
Lancia D20 Compressor | S 8.0 | 213 | DNF (Engine) | |
| 1954 | Scuderia Ferrari
|
Maurice Trintignant
|
Ferrari 375 Plus | S 5.0 | 302 | 1st | 1st |
Other race results
edit- Grand Prix of Interlagos: 3rd, (1952), Formula Libre
- Grand Prix of Rio de Janeiro 1st, (1952), Formula Libre
- Grand Prix of Buenos Aires 1st, (1951), Formula Libre
- Glover Trophy: 1st, (1952), Formula Libre
- Supercortemaggiore: 2nd, (1954)
- Monsanto Park Circuit: 1st, (1954)
- 1000 miles of Buenos Aires: 3rd, (1956), 1st (1960)
- 500 miles of Rafaela: 1st, (1958), 1st (1959)
Notes
edit- ^ a b Up until 1990, not all points scored by a driver contributed to their final World Championship tally (see list of points scoring systems for more information). Numbers without parentheses are Championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.[5]
- ^ González was nicknamed The Pampas Bull for his large stature, aggressive racing style, and eastern Argentine heritage.[1]
References
edit- ^ "The Pampas Bull". Fisherley. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ "The Formula One Archives". Retrieved 25 July 2007.
- ^ "Jose Froilan Gonzalez, Ferrari's first GP winner, dies at age 90". 14 June 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ Brown, Allen. "Jose Froilan Gonzalez". oldracingcars.com. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
- ^ Diepraam, Mattijs (18 January 2019). "World Championship points systems". 8W. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2020.