Carlos Reutemann, 63, winner of 12 Grands Prix—five of them with Ferrari from 1976 to 1978—has been made a Commendatore in the New Year Honors list of Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi. “Lole,” as he was known, now holds the same rank as his late ’70s employer at Maranello, Commendatore Enzo Ferrari.
Reutemann competed in Formula One from 1972 to 1982 and lost the 1981 Formula One World Championship to Nelson Piquet by just one point—the Brazilian taking the title with 50 points to Lole’s 49.
When he hung up his helmet, Reutemann became an Argentinean politician and served two terms as the governor of Santa Fe province, his birthplace. He was elected to the Argentine Senate in 2004 and will serve out that mandate until it expires in 2009.
Born of an Italian mother, Reutemann speaks fluent Italian.
By Robert Newman
