José Froilán González (5 October 1922 – 15 June 2013) was an Argentine racing driver, who competed in

Formula One Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...

between and . Nicknamed "the Pampas Bull", González was runner-up in the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in with

Ferrari Ferrari S.p.A. (; ) is an Italian luxury sports car manufacturer based in Maranello. Founded in 1939 by Enzo Ferrari (1898–1988), the company built Auto Avio Costruzioni 815, its first car in 1940, adopted its current name in 1945, and be ...

, and won two Grands Prix across nine seasons. In endurance racing, González won the

24 Hours of Le Mans The 24 Hours of Le Mans () is an endurance-focused Sports car racing, sports car race held annually near the city of Le Mans, France. It is widely considered to be one of the world's most prestigious races, and is one of the races—along with ...

in , also with Ferrari. González is particularly notable for scoring

's first win in a Formula One World Championship race at the 1951 British Grand Prix. He made his

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 position In a motorsports race, the pole position is usually the best and "statistically the most advantageous" starting position on the track. The pole position is usually earned by the driver with the best qualifying times in the trials before the ra ...

s, six fastest laps, and 72 points. He won the 1951 Coppa Acerbo, in 1954 the

with

Maurice Trintignant Maurice Bienvenu Jean Paul Trintignant (; 30 October 1917 – 13 February 2005) was a French racing driver and winemaker, who competed in Formula One from to . Trintignant won two Formula One Grands Prix across 15 seasons. In endurance raci ...

, and the Portuguese Grand Prix for

. Physically well built, González was nicknamed ''The Pampas Bull'' (by his English fans) and ''El Cabezón'' (Fat Head, by his Argentine fans). His close friends, like Juan Manuel Fangio and Roberto Mieres, called him ''Pepe''.

Sixtieth anniversary tribute

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

Death

He died in Buenos Aires from

respiratory failure Respiratory failure results from inadequate gas exchange by the respiratory system, meaning that the arterial oxygen, carbon dioxide, or both cannot be kept at normal levels. A drop in the oxygen carried in the blood is known as hypoxemia; a r ...

, aged 90, after a downturn in health following a heart attack earlier in 2013.

Racing record

Complete Formula One World Championship results

( key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap) * Shared drive.
** Joint 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

Other race 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) * 500 miles of Rafaela: 1st, (1958), 1st (1959)

Notes

References

External links

Video: Tribute to Froilán González by Fernando Alonso
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gonzalez, Jose Froilan 1922 births Argentine racing drivers Argentine Formula One drivers Formula One race winners Enrico Platé Formula One drivers Ferrari Formula One drivers Maserati Formula One drivers Vanwall Formula One drivers Turismo Carretera drivers People from Arrecifes 24 Hours of Le Mans drivers 24 Hours of Le Mans winning drivers World Sportscar Championship drivers 2013 deaths Deaths from respiratory failure Racing drivers from Buenos Aires Province