Jochen Rindt: Difference between revisions

Upon impact, a joint in the crash barrier parted, the suspension of the vehicle went under the barrier, and the car hit a [[stanchion]] head-on. The front end was destroyed. Rindt was in the habit of using only four points on the five-point harness then available and did not wear the crotch straps, as he wanted to be able to exit the car quickly in the event of fire. As a result, upon impact he slid under the belts, and the belts fatally slit open Rindt's throat.<ref name=guardian/>{{sfn|Henry|1990|p=104}}{{sfn|Prüller|1970|p=199}} Later investigations found that the accident was initiated by a failure of the car's right front [[inboard brake]] shaft, but that Rindt's death was caused by poorly installed crash barriers.{{sfn|Nye|1986|p=69}}<ref name=forix/>

Chapman refuted the assertion that the broken brake shaft had caused the accident, arguing that the shaft broke when the wheel hit the crash barrier.<ref>Autosport Magazine, Correspondence Page 6, September 24 1970</ref>

 

Rindt was pronounced dead on the way to hospital in Milan and Lotus withdrew all cars from the race, including the Lotus 72 entered by Rob Walker.<ref name=forix/><ref name=mmmitaly1>{{cite journal|title=41st Italian Grand Prix|journal=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport]]|date=October 1970|page=32|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/october-1970/32/41st-italian-grand-prix|access-date=20 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120105252/http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/october-1970/32/41st-italian-grand-prix |archive-date=20 January 2016}}</ref> The Grand Prix went ahead and Clay Regazzoni took his maiden victory, but celebrations were muted.<ref>{{cite web|title=Italian GP, 1970 Race Report|url=http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr194.html|website=grandprix.com|access-date=20 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120113551/http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr194.html |archive-date=20 January 2016}}</ref> There was a lengthy investigation into Rindt's death in Italy, leading to a trial against Colin Chapman; he was cleared of all charges in 1976. The destroyed Lotus 72 remained in Italy after the trial, going to a scrapyard near Monza. In 1985, a real estate agent found the wreckage and bought it from the authorities, later trading it in 1993 for a [[Lola Cars|Lola]] Formula 3 car. Since then, the car has rested in a garage near [[Milan]].{{sfn|Zwickl|2007|p=79}}