Gilles Villeneuve (1950 – 1982)
Canadian Formula 1 racing driver.
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"His car control was extraordinary, even compared with the many talented drivers I have had the opportunity to drive against over the years. ... [He drove a] Grand Prix car to the absolute limit of its ability."
"Behind the wheel of a racing car he was fearfully quick, never stopped trying, and could extricate himself from the most precarious situations with deft brilliance."
"The kids were just 8 and 10 years old and seemed to be doing much better than I expected. That first night they both went upstairs to bed, and later I went up to check on them. They were asleep. When I saw Melanie I started crying. She had a picture of her dad with her. She was holding it in her arms."
"Gilles was a totally uncomplicated non-political guy with no hangups whatsoever. He was totally and completely honest. If we were testing .. and the car was rubbish, he'd come in and say 'Look, the car's rubbish ... I don't mind driving the car, don't get me wrong, I'll drive it all day .. and I love every minute of it, but I thought that you ought to know the car's rubbish.' ... The Old Man (Enzo Ferrari) loved him for this."
"I will drive flat out all the time ... I love racing."
"The sport is more important than anything. More important than any of the people in it. Of course I say what I think. I always have, even if it upsets people like Ecclestone and Balestre. Why should I be afraid of them? The fans aren't here to see politicians and manipulators. They're here to see Alain and Mario and Carlos and me. I am very secure in my feelings about racing. I make a lot of money from it, but one thing I can tell you for sure: if the money disappeared overnight, I would still be in racing, because I love it. The entrepreneurs would be gone."
"Quite seriously, I've never felt anything like the same about racing ever since. I nearly packed it up."
"[Gilles] was the fastest driver in the history of motor racing. .. But more important for me is that he was the most genuine person I have ever known."
"I think Gilles was the perfect racing driver ... He had the best talent of all of us."
"In a situation like that I know I would have been scared stiff. But I am sure that when Gilles felt his Ferrari take off, his last thought was anger, plain and simple, because he knew that he had spoiled that one perfect lap."
"I was at home in Monaco that Sunday. A friend of mine called from Zolder and said 'Gilles has had a big accident, and it doesn't look good at all.' So I phoned Joann, and shot up to her place very quickly. From then on it was chaos and disaster. You don't want to think about it."
I know no human being can do miracles but Gilles could really surprise us sometimes.
"His death signified the passing of a certain approach. He was the last person who had the totally un-inhibited joy of driving a racing car."
"His death has deprived us of a great champion - one that I loved very much. My past is scarred with grief; parents, brother, son. My life is full of sad memories. I look back and see the faces of my loved ones, and among them I see him."
"He also never drove anywhere at anything less than an absolutely flat-out pace, be it on the road or the track..."
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