Emerson Fittipaldi
Emerson Fittipaldi ( born December 12, 1946 in São Paulo ) is a former Brazilian racing driver and two -time Formula 1 World Champion.
Career
After he won the 1969 British Formula 3 Championship, Emerson Fittipaldi came in 1970 as third driver alongside Jochen Rindt and John Miles in the Lotus team. He helped virtually Rindt World Champion title posthumously, as he completely surprising the U.S. Grand Prix in 1970 won at Watkins Glen. By 1973 he drove for the team of Colin Chapman and became world champion in 1972. The following year, Fittipaldi was in a team with Ronnie Peterson strong competition. With two top riders, the team frittered away a little so that Jackie Stewart drove to his third world title. Fittipaldi became Vice World Champion, World Cup bronze medalist Peterson.
Emerson Fittipaldi probably had the feeling that Colin Chapman Peterson favored the Swedes, and signed in time for 1974 at McLaren and the team there boss Teddy Mayer. Jackie Stewart's resignation and the new beginning at Ferrari favored something his latest world title. Although Fittipaldi was still an absolute top drivers, but the fire, which he had from 1970 to 1972 was no longer there. He drove more rational and level-headed. In 1975, he celebrated with his McLaren while two more Grand Prix wins ( Buenos Aires and Brands Hatch ) and also the Vice World Championship. But the emerging Niki Lauda and his Ferrari team he could barely stand up.
After that season, he signed for 1976 when his brother Wilson Fittipaldi supported by Copersucar team. But the career slump was there. From 1976 to 1980, when he drove for the Copersucar / Fittipaldi team, he could regularly until 1978, although slightly improved, but more than a second place (1978 in the GP of Brazil in Jacarepagua ) not jumped out. 1979 and 1980 the team stagnated becoming more and Fittipaldi lost pretty soon the desire. On October 5, 1980, he drove his last Grand Prix in the USA.
In 1981, he moved into management of the Fittipaldi team. Top riders of the team was Keke Rosberg. The Finn won a single championship point for the team and could not even even with five races to qualify. How weak the Fittipaldi car really was, for a year later showed. The same Keke Rosberg was at Williams - Ford World Champion.
Between 1984 and 1996 drove " Emmo " in the IndyCar World Series. He won there in 1989, the Championship and the Indianapolis 500 race. In 1993, he repeated the victory in the Indianapolis 500
After a serious fire accident in 1996 at the Michigan 500 and a crash with his private ultralights in the following year, he finished his career as a racing driver. However, in 2003, he returned as a team a team owner back in the Champ Car series.
For the Brazilian national team in the A1GP series he acted also as a team leader.
In 2005 he caused a surprise when he participating in the GP Masters series announced, despite his advanced age and now already in the first race just behind his former Champ Car counterparty Nigel Mansell could occupy the second rank.
In 2008, he took with his brother Wilson at the wheel of a Porsche 997 GT3 at the Brazilian GT3 Championship in part.
He is a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy.
Private life
Emerson Fittipaldi lives in third marriage and has a total of seven children. The children Juliana, Jayson and Tatiana come from his first marriage to Maria Helena from 1970 to 1982. The marriage with Teresa brought forth the children Joana and Luca. His third wife, the economist Rossana Fanucchi, he married the beginning of December 2012 after eleven years of living together. With her he already has two children, born in 2007 the son Emerson " Emo, " and who was born in early 2012 daughter Vittoria.
He still lives at times near his hometown of São Paulo, where he owns an orange tree plantation. Another hobby of his is the production of cigars.