Who were always a Fan Favourite as a loveable Underdog
Formula 1 Constructor!
This “Retrospective” of one of the Greatest
Minnowesqe Formula 1 Teams of the past was originally begun Wayback in Bloody
2020, during a lull in Motor Racing due to COVID-19. But like many things Here
in Nofendersville, it never got published! Being waylaid High upon Ye Driftwood…
Team
Full Name: Minardi F1 Team
Team Founder: Giancarlo Minardi
Noted Technical Staff: Gustav Brunner
Base: Faenza, Italy
Constructors Titles: 0
Drivers Titles: 0
First Race: Brazilian Grand Prix, 1985
Last Race: Chinese Grand Prix, 2005
Races: 346 Entries (340 Starts)
Wins: 0
Poles: 0
If you're a Hard Core F1 Aficionado like Mwah,
then you know that today’s AlphaTauri and it's subsequent incarnations as a Formula
1 Constructor began as Minardi Wayback in 1985, when Giancarlo Minardi's
Minnowesqe Formula 1 Team made it's F1 Debut at Sao Paolo, Brazil.
the team's list of Driver Alumni include one
future Formula 1 Double World Champion named Fredrico Suave, aka Fernando
Alonso who began his Formula One career in 2001 at Minardi., in what I've
always thought was one of the team's best looking chassis, i.e.; the Minardi
PS01.
As the PS Chassis suffix stood for Paul
Stoddart, after the Australian Businessman purchased the beleaguered F1 team
from Messer Minardi in 2001, before selling it to the late “Deeter Majestic”
and his Red bull concern in 2005.
Other F1 Drivers to score Grands Prix victories
include four future winners: Jarno Trulli, Giancarlo Fisichella, Alessandro
Nannini and Mark Webber. Plus one former Grands Prix victor, Michele Alboreto
who joined the team during his F1 Swansong.
Four former Minardi Drivers became winners in
America's Open Wheel Racing series. The first being Christian Fittipaldi who won
for the storied Newman/Haas racing team in CART (Championship auto Racing
Teams) in 1999 at Road America. With then Chief Steward Wally Dallenbach having
to Eat his Hat as part of a Bet!
While Justin B-I-G UNIT' Wilson, who subsequently
became my Numero Uno IndyCar Driver during his prowess at RuSport Wayback in
'05 - Before his unfortunate Demise, scored wins in both the Champ Car World
Series (CCWS) and the mergified Indy Racing League, (IRL) now simply known as
IndyCar. Scoring a total of seven wins before His untimely Death at Pocono in August,
2015.
Whilst Former Jordan, Minardi and Red Bull F1
recruit Robert Doornbos also drove for Minardi's Champ Car team known as
Minardi Team USA during Chump Carz' series final season in '07, where he not
only notched two Champ Car W's.
But is more fondly known here on Ye Isle 'O
Nofendersville for giving le Hemburgular', later known here on No Fenders as
Sealmeister B', aka Sebastien Bourdais who ruled the Roost in Champ Cars from
2004-2007 Great Agro', nee Aggravation!
Which presumably heldped him earn the nickname Bad Bobby D!
Christian Fittipaldi and Justin Wilson have
also won the prestigious Rolex 24, with Fittipaldi claiming three Rolex
time-pieces for his multiple victories.
Michele Alboreto won the 24 Heurs du Mans outright
for Porsche in 1997 with eventual Mr. Le Mans, aka tom Kristensen and ‘lil
Stevie Johnson, nee Stefan Johansson. Driving the TWR Porsche WSC-95 for Joest
Racing.
Before Michele’s untimely Death whilst testing
an Audi R8 Prototype at the Fiendish Euro Speedway Lausitzring in the former
East Germany. Site of another Mega ex-Minardi Driver's Horrendous Death Defying
injury on September 15, 2001! With Alboreto’s Death coming just one month after
having won the 12 Hours of Sebring for Audi.
And how could I not mention El Zorro', aka Alex
Zanardi, whom everyone will know lost both of his legs at that aforementioned
CART IndyCar race at Ye Lausitzring in '01.
While Alex has been recovering from a Horrific
Handbiking Accident near Pisa nearly three years ago on June 19, 2020. Before returning home in December,
2021.
As Zanardi's the only Double (CART) IndyCar Champion who amassed
15 IndyCar wins after driving for Minardi. And obviously I hope for his full
recovery from his latest traumatic accident!
Whilst lastly, Marc Gene who raced for Minardi
in Formula 1 between 1999-2000, before becoming a Williams and Ferrari F1 Test
Driver, won the prestigious 24 Heurs du Mans for Peugeot Sport Wayback’ in
2009.
As once upon a time, before Formula 1 began
piling on more 'N more Grands Prix per season, with Liberty Media wishing to capitalize
it's investment with a ridiculous plan for 25 Grands Prix per season, YOUSA! As
Talk 'bout Diluting your product…
There was a time when a Formula 1 Driver making
200 Grands Prix starts was a Mega' accomplishment, for which four Minardi Alumni
have done so, which I scribbled about in another No Fenders tome.
http://www.nofenders.net/2013/04/last-of-minardis-two-hundreders.html
And Fernando Alonso, whose currently enjoying
an F1 Renaissance currently driving for Aston Martin, having scored five
podiums to start the season. Will claim His record 362nd Grands Prix start at His Home race at Barcelona,
the Spanish Grand Prix on June 4, 2023. With the soon to be 42yr old Spaniard in
the first of His two year contract with Aston Martin, being set to potentially become
the Sports first ever 400 Grands Prix starter, Aye Karumba!
http://www.nofenders.net/2022/10/f1-alonso-moves-into-p1.html
