Gentleman John Surtees, Rest in Peace

John Surtees died in a London hospital after a "brief intensive care period" after being admitted with an existing respiratory condition.

The Formula 1 and MotoGP former Champion was 83.

Although he never recieved Britiain's highest civilian honor, a knighthood, he was recognized and beloved by his English fans and recognized by the Queen as Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Surtees started his racing career as a sidecar rider for his father racing motorcycles. It was't until 1956 that he won his own world championship at the 500cc level, the first of four consecutive championships at MotoGP before announcing his decision to move to Formula 1 racing. He would make his debut in 1960 in the Lotus.

During a string of successes on track, Surtees also won the Senior TT and the Isle of Man TT three consecutive years in 58, 59 and 60. The annual gathering on the British Isle of Man would see world class racing on the streets of the small island community, completely banning traffic on Mad Monday, the last day of the week-long tournament.

In 1963 Surtees signed with Ferarri and in 1964 he won the title World Formula 1 Drivers Champion.

To this day Surtees is the only person to win a MotoGP title and a Formula 1 Drivers Championship.

In 2009 tragedy struck when his son was killed in a Formula 2 race in England. In his honor, Surtees started a memorial foundation and has seen to it's business every year since.

Surtees was from a legendary generation of drivers in F1. In a period of time when the mortality rate was at it's highest, John Surtees fought, won, crashed and recovered and survived. He was one of the last of the "balls out men of racing".

RIP

photo explanation:  (from top) Calm and confident John pre-race; from British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch 1970; Legend and survivor John Surtees in the Ferrari;  MotoGP champion 1956;  Monaco tunnel 1969; Surtees leading at Oulton Park 1965; rare blue Ferrari at Watkins Glen 1964

-katykarter

AJ and Team ABC pick Daly and Munoz for 2017 Campaign

Indy Car team ABC Supply owned by legenday racer A.J. Foyt has shuffled their lineup for 2017.

First, AJ plucked Carlos Munoz from Andretti Autosport to replace Jack Hawksworth.
After Union Jack's second season with Foyt, his best finish in 2016 was an 11th place, his best qualifying effort was 9th at Watkins Glen and ended the season in 20th place in points. Munoz, by comparison, drove the Andretti Autosport Honda to a 2nd place finish at the Indianapolis 500 and finished 10th in the points.

Carlos Munoz

Then, Foyt added Conor Daly to take the place of Takuma Sato in the other car. Conor came from the small Dale Coyne Racing team, ending the season 18th in points and finishing 2nd at Belle Isle. Daly will benefit from Foyt's oval experience and has shown he can run with the big dogs when strategy gets him up front. Sato managed to finish 17th in points for Foyt in 2016 with a season best 5th place finish at Long Beach. AJ's most recent and only win for sponsor ABC Supply came from Sato at Long Beach in 2013. Sato is also going to Andretti for the 2017 season alongside Marco Andretti, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Alexander Rossi who'll drive a car co-owned by Michael Andretti and Bryan Herta.

Conor Daly while driving for Dale Coyne

Foyt Racing's sponsor, ABC Supply Co. will become the longest running sponsorship in all of Indy car this year. After 13 years, Foyt just re-signed ABC as their main sponsor for two more years.

Indy Car open test Feb 2017, Phoenix, Az

Also of note: Ed Jones, who drove to a points championship in Indy Lights in 2016 has been picked up by Dale Coyne Racing to fill the seat vacated by Conor Daly. Daly will be driving the No. 4 car in it's first full time season. It was Foyt who gave Daly his start in Indycar, first in the form of a test drive at Sebring in the No. 4 car, then again for his first race in Indy Car, the 2013 Indianapolis 500.

Daly selfie

-katykarter