An Argentinean senator slipped into the cockpit of Michael Schumacher’s 2004 Formula One World Championship–winning car at Ferrari’s private Fiorano track in early December and put in 17 extremely competent laps. Then he came in, killed the engine, took off his white, yellow and blue helmet and allowed himself a rare smile of satisfaction. It had been 26 years.
His name was Carlos Reutemann, winner of 5 of his 12 Grands Prix for the Prancing Horse in 1977 and 1978, including the Grands Prix of the U.S. East and West.
Now thicker around the waist and with his hair thinning a little, 62-year-old Reutemann said, “The drive was an improvised thing. It happened after I had spoken to Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo on the phone while he was on a business trip to China. He was my motorsport director in my time with the team.”
First Lole, as Reutemann was known in his racing days, visited the Maranello factory, where he was warmly welcomed by Ferrari managing director Jean Todt. After that, he donned a rather tight-fitting red and white Ferrari-Marlboro driver’s suit, a pair of his old racing boots and his famous crash helmet in Argentinean national colors and, after having the controls explained to him, did his 17 laps. “These cars are completely different to the ones I drove for Maranello”, said the ex–two term Governor of Argentina’s Santa Fe province after his drive, “but it was an unforgettable experience.”
“Today’s Formula One can seem easy on the television, but after having personally checked out this car I can say it most certainly is not.” Not surprising, as the F2004 is about 80% more powerful than the 500-hp Ferrari 312 T2 and T3 Reutemann drove in his day.
Submitted by Robert Newman
