{"id":460486,"date":"2005-06-01T15:00:13","date_gmt":"2005-06-01T15:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportscardigest.com\/\/?p=85757"},"modified":"2024-12-27T03:05:55","modified_gmt":"2024-12-27T03:05:55","slug":"monaco-memories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.supercars.net\/blog\/monaco-memories\/","title":{"rendered":"Monaco Memories"},"content":{"rendered":"
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I first raced at Monaco in 1955, a famous year for the Grand Prix, when Ascari went into the water. I remember, because I was behind him\u2026not very far\u2026at one stage. I started in 6th place and I was going well, but there was this big fight at the front, and Fangio and Moss got away from us. Then Castellotti, Ascari and Behra were having a big battle. I remember Castellotti started smashing up his car, and I thought, \u201cI could do well in this race.\u201d Trintignant got ahead when Moss started to lap me and Perdisa blocked me. I went up from 6th to 5th to 4th and then 3rd and then the axle broke near the end. I was in the pits and saw Moss stopping and then I saw tremendous steam in the harbor, and because I am a sailor, I thought it was a boat doing something. I asked the mechanics what was happening and where was Ascari and they said he was in the sea!<\/p>\n

I couldn\u2019t understand the concept that a Formula One car was in the water\u2026this was the first time in history. I then went to Ascari\u2019s apartment later that afternoon to see him to say hello and see if he was all right. He was a very lovely, good friend. He said to me \u201cI wanted to imitate you because I know you are a good sailor\u2026that\u2019s the reason I went into the ocean! Anyway, I will see you next week at the 1,000 Kilometers at Monza.\u201d Then I went to Paris, and I was on a train in Switzerland on Thursday and read a newspaper that said Ascari was dead. It was unbelievable. That is a big memory for me because he was such a good man, and coming back to Monaco brings back these memories.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n