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Jose Froilan Gonzalez, Ferrari's First F1 Winner, Dies at 90

Jose Froilan Gonzalez, former racing driver and the first man to win a world championship Formula 1 event for Scuderia Ferrari, has died at the age of 90.
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Born in Argentina, the same country that gave Juan Manuel Fangio to motorsport, Gonzalez raced in Formula One from 1950 through 1957, with one last single race in 1960. In the 1951 British Grand Prix at the Silverstone track, González gave Ferrari’s first Formula One victory.

Throughout his career, the Argentine took 26 Formula One starts scoring two wins and 15 podiums while driving for teams like Maserati, Talbot-Lago, Ferrari and Vanwall. His best Formula One results came in 1954, finishing the season in second position behind fellow countryman Juan Manuel Fangio.

Jose Froilan Gonzalez also participated in four 24 Hours of Le Mans races, winning the event in 1954 behind the steering wheel of a Ferrari 375 Plus.

"We had spoken not that long ago, talking about cars and racing, the topics he was most enthusiastic about. Over all these years, he was always very attached to Ferrari and, as a driver and a man, he played an integral part in our history. His death means we have lost a true friend,” said Ferrari president Luca Di Montezemolo.
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About the author: Ciprian Florea
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Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer.
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