On This Day

José Froilán González

Argentine racing driver (1922–2013)

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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" and "el Cabezón", 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.

González, who was a close friend of Juan Manuel Fangio and Roberto Mieres, among others, 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. 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, the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans with Maurice Trintignant, and the Portuguese Grand Prix for Ferrari.

On 10 July 2011, during the British Grand Prix meeting, González was honoured by Ferrari 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's Ferrari 375 F1 for four laps of the Silverstone track. Later that day, Alonso won the British Grand Prix in his Ferrari 150º Italia.

González died in Buenos Aires from respiratory failure, aged 90, after a downturn in health following a heart attack earlier in 2013.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate 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

(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

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)

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