The point system? There were nine races. Each of the four main characters won two races apiece, except for Stoddard, who won three, yet he didn't become champion. Was this because he failed to finish four of the races? Actually, I saw Aron win just one, at Spa. Who won what, and how were the points tallied?
shareThe points were awarded for position 1-6 as follows 9-6-4-3-2-1.
Not sure though if the drivers and teams could add up all their points at the end of the year in the film.
In some of the 1960's F1-seasons you could only count the 6 or 8 best race results out of the total 9 or 10 championship races.
Then again, I can't remember which year the film is supposed to be set in (1965/66?, haven't seen it in awhile).
Stoddard got injured and missed some races as you say, and probably lost the championship (or did he win it?) because of that.....
RIP Ian....
Thanks for the info, quaddo.
I guess it took three wins for Scott just to catch him up with the others.
The script was set up by the 1961 season dominated by Ferrari but Lotus and BRM were showing promise. Phil Hill won the World Championship for Ferrari as Von Trips (who had been leading the championship) crashed and was killed (along with 12 spectators) at the climactic Monza race; one of the last on the banks. Apparently Ricardo Rodgiguez, the fourth or fifth Ferrari driver was being an idiot as usual and squeezed Jim Clark going into a curva, Clark had to move over and in turn squeezed Von Trips off the track; Von Trips' car went up a bank, took out about 50 feet of fencing and rolled multiple times ending up wrongside up in the middle of the track. Using a seatbelt was still optional, and headgear ranged from a leather helmet and goggles to a polo cap used by Phil Hill. The Italians investigated and indicted Jim Clark (!) for negligent manslaughter (by then he was out of the country) not the Ferrari Driver Rodriguez. Clark only returned surruptitiously to Italy for the rest of his life, fearing Italian 'justice.' The Rainstorm that hit Spa actually happened in 1964; ask Jackie Stewart why his bum is wrinkled.
share"an idiot as usual"
Please be kind enough to explain what you mean by this statement, 'Petie3-2'.
That is, if you have the courage.
"The Rainstorm that hit Spa actually happened in 1964"
Please get your facts correct.
"...and if the bible has taught us anything (and it hasn't)..." Homer
At the last race the announcer/narrator explains that Barlini has 28 pts, Sarti and Stoddard are tied at 27, and Aron has 26. Out of these four, the winner of Italy would be guaranteed to be the WC with the 9-6-4-3-2-1 system in place. Barlini won the British and must have had 19 other points. Sarti won Monaco and France and 9 other points. Stoddard won the Dutch, US and Mexico only. Aron won Belgium and Germany (off camera) and 8 more points (flaming 2nd in British + a 5th or two 6ths). With the win in Italy Aron finishes with 35 pts, Stoddard 33.
shareI read in a Steve McQueen biography that he didn't allow footage filmed at The Nurburgring to be used because he was angry that "Grand Prix" was being made while he planning to do a movie about racing. He had already filmed footage at The Ring. The world had to wait another 5 years for "Le Mans" to come out and Paul Newman had done the film "Winning" about the indi 500 in 1969. Just thought I would share this with you.
shareThe Rainstorm that hit Spa actually happened in 1964; ask Jackie Stewart why his bum is wrinkled.
The Formula One season depicted in "Grand Prix" (1966 as filmed?)definitely used the 9-6-4-3-2-1 scoring system. After the first race in Monaco the Sarti charcter (who wins) is congratulated on "your first nine" and then explains to the Louise Fredrickson character the comment refers to points toward the F1 championship. As noted previously, the track/radio announcer at Monza just prior to the start says Barlini has 28 points, Sarti and Stoddard tied at 27, with Aron in fourth at 26. Extrapolating what we know from the film:
Sarti wins in Monaco and at the French Grand Prix for 18 points. He finsihes third behind Barlini and a burning Aron in Great Britain for four points bringing his total to 22. Sarti does not finish (DNF) at Belgium (last lap crash out of the lead) and in Holland (broken throttle linkage) and, of course, due to his fatal crash at Monza. That means he accumulates five more points from finishes at the German Grand Prix, the United States GP and/or in Mexico, meaning he placed no higer then third at any of those contests. Not great shakes for a guy who started so hot, but one could argue that he really lost his nerve and desire after the crash at Spa with the checkerd flag in sight.
Barlini wins the British Grand Prix, finshes second at Monaco and, it is implied, is part of another Ferrari sweep in France for a total of 21 points. His only confirmed DNF is when his is withdrawn from the lead at the Monza race after Sarti's death. We see Barlini spin but continue in Holland, but have no inforamtion as to how that impacted his result there. The other Barlini finishes are off camera. He gets eight points (but no wins) from his combined results in Belgium, Germany, Holland, the United States and Mexico. That could be a couple of podiums and a bunch of bad races, but I think it is rather consistent moderately competitive results.
Stoddard wins the Dutch, United States and Mexican Grand Prixs for his pre-Italian total of 27 points. He is DNF at Monaco (crashing out of the lead) and in Great Britain (having led, but collapsing in the cockpit from his prior injuries). He does not start (DNS) because of crash injuries in France, Belgium and Germany. With his close second to Aron at the Italian Grand Prix, Stoddard finsihes with 33 points. He may not have ended up champion, but when driving, had the best season overall leading every race he entered.
Aron wins in Belgium and Germany, while finishing a flaming second at Brands Hatch for 24 of his pre-Italian Grand Prix 26 points. He is DNF after his crash with Stoddard at Monaco and DNS from the French Grand Prix when he was without a ride. That means he eeks out only two points from his starts at Zandvoort, Watkins Glen and in Mexico. From the post-race reaction scene in the Yamura garage after the Dutch Grand Prix, it sure looks like Aron finished out of the points as it does after Mexico when Mr. Yamura is reading Aron the riot act. My conclusion is Aron finshed fifth at Watkins Glen for two points. Aron does end up champion with 35 points by winning the Italian Grand Prix, but only after Barlini has been denied an almost certain win (and the championship) when Ferrari withdraws after Sarti's fatal crash. Of the four protagionists, it can reasonably argued that Aron, overall, had the worst driving season of the four. Two of his three wins are gifted from the Ferrari drivers and, head-to-head, Aron only beats Stoddard once, at Monza.
Just my two cents but an interesting analysis