Gonzalo Rodriguez: still missed after 5 years
Gonzalo Rodriguez Tribute He won a lot of Karting Championships: Uruguayan Champion in 1985, 1986 and 1989, Southamerican Champion in 1986, Vicechampion in 1987, Uruguayan and Federal Champion - Stock Category in 1986, Dr. Jorge Antonaccio' Cup in 1988, PLUNA' Cup, River Plate Vice-champion in 1988 and finally Sprint world record in the World Championship in Valence, France in 1989. After the succes in Karting, Gonzalo graduaded to car racing. He raced in the Uruguayan Formula Renault Championship for four years, 1988,
1989, 1990 and 1991 (Vice-Champion). Also in 1991 he became Uruguayan 200-mile
Tourism Champion Formula 3, 'Best beginner of the Season'. He did also race the Uruguayan 200-mile Summer Tournament Champion Southamerican Formula 3 and finished 4th. In 1993 third in the Spanish Formula Renault Championship with one win, 2 seconds and 3 thirds. He leave Spain and went to England in 1994, the country of Motor Racing and
did the British Formula Renault Championship. Third position in the Championship
with one win, 3 times 2nd and 5 times in 3rd position, He won at Brands Hatch
while driving in the European Formula Renault Championship, a great victory for
the Uruguayan driver of just 22 years old. He won one race and finished another time third. Two podiumplaces in his first F3 season, not bad. He raced also for ADR in 1996, but after a couple of races he leave Formula 3 and signed a British Formula 2 contract with Edenbridge Racing. In the last 6 races he finished 2nd in Oulton Park, Donington Park and Brands Hatch and 3rd in another Donington race. In 1997 British Formula 2 again, with Redman & Bright and only half a season International Formula 3000 also with Redman & Bright (Number 37). In 1998 he signed for a full season F3000 with the Belgian team 'Team
Astromega', driving the number 12 Lola T96/50-Zytek KV. Also Team Astromega was a strong team, he and Team Astromega were together for the second year. He won the Monaco race at the Monte-Carlo circuit with the Lola B99/50-Zytek KV number 8. 5th place finish in Imola, 2nd place in Barcelona, Hungaroring 4th and Spa-Francorchamps 2nd (3rd in the final standings). He was already 27 years old and Formula 1 would be difficult, he was invited for some CART races with Marlboro Team Penske in the 1999. In March 1999 he watched the Grand Prix of Miami and he signed a contract as test driver for Marlboro Team Penske. Later he tested at Sebring and in July, just befor his first race with the new Lola chassis at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. He drove his first CART race at the Detroit street-circuit on 8 August 1999, he started 16th and finished in the points, 12th place finish in his first CART race. He went back to Europe for the F3000 Championship and came back to the States in September. His second Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) race was the Shell 300 at the Laguna Seca Raceway (now Mazda Raceway) in Monterey, California, the Spa-Francorchamps of the United States. In practice he crashed, Rodriguez, 27, was traveling between 70 mph and 80 mph and entering the famous "corkscrew" corner (Turn 8) with his #3 '99 Marlboro Team Penske Lola-Mercedes with Goodyear tires. He died instantly. He was a very nice person, signed autographes for his fans, talked with people and took time for everybody. What was his future, 5 years after his dead? In 2004 he would be still young, 32, maybe he was a CART or IRL Champion or maybe he was a Formula 1 driver. Who knows, maybe God! After 5 years, he is still missed by a lot of people involved in racing. Thanks 'Gonchi', we enjoyed your races. |
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