The 1979 Dutch Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 26 August 1979 at Zandvoort. Scuderia Ferrari’s Gilles Villeneuve had been leading the race when he spun on lap 47. Two laps later he spun again, this time thanks to a puncture, and found himself in the gravel on the outside of the first corner. Race over.
Errm, not quite. Gilles didn’t know the meaning of the term ‘give up’ and tried to get back to the pits as quickly as he could. He regained control to begin one of the wildest laps in history. He drove an entire lap on two tyres, the right front was in the air and the left rear was shredding rubber and sparking with the pavement. Reaction was mixed. It was either an act of the ultimate competitor not wanting to give up or an irresponsible, emotional decision. Either way he was out as his suspension was too damaged to rejoin the race.
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