October 3, 1971
Formula 1 Grand Prix of the United States (almost)
Watkins Glen, New York
Ferrari 312B
I had a chance to drive Mario Andretti’s F1 Ferrari at the Glen in 1971, but no sponsor’s name could appear on car, so the opportunity slipped between my fingers.
The car was scheduled for Andretti, who had a commitment for an Indy Car race at Trenton, New Jersey. I had just won Ecuador with Greg Young a few days earlier, and heard Mario’s car was available. I contacted Mauro Forghieri (designer with Ferrari) who spoke to the Commendatore.
Andretti was OK with me in the car. I was one of five International FIA rated drivers in the US.
Adamowicz collection
Mario Andretti and Mark Donohue, who was fresh from a third place finish in Canada in his Formula One debut in a Penske-White Racing entered McLaren, were committed to drive on Sunday in a USAC race which had been rescheduled to the GP weekend after it had been called off on the previous weekend because of extremely heavy rain.
Adamowicz collection
Mr. Ferrari was OK with it also, but there was a price tag to drive it: $5500 for a rebuild after the Glen race.
I contacted Herb Wetson, who was excited about being involved, as he had just opened a new Italian Restaurant in New York called “Mamma Mia’s”. Herb wanted a full size photo of the car hanging in his restaurant. When I got back to Ferrari, Forghieri said they wouldn’t allow any advertising on the car, not even my driver’s suit or helmet! It was a major dilemma for me. I had the money to buy the ride, however, I never personally bought a ride in my career and felt very strongly about not doing so at the time.
If I could have arranged for Wetson’s name on the car, I would have driven it. Instead, the car sat idle, no one drove it. I look back now and think I should have done it. Like investing in a college career. Maybe this ride would have been the best of my life. But who knows? I am here to talk about my Formula One choice while Revson and Donohue are not.
1971 Ferrari Formula One 312B2 in the garage with rain tires
Adamowicz collection
The 312B2 was fast, recording some very good qualifying results that year. However, it had terrible reliability and rarely finished a race. Jacky Ickx managed to finish the Dutch Grand Prix and scored Ferrari’s only F1 win that year.