At the time, this was the last Japanese Grand Prix due to traveling and financial issues (in those days, in order to get to Japan from Europe required going through Anchorage, Alaska in the United States or through Hong Kong, as both the Soviet Union and Red China banned Western aircraft from flying in their airspace) and safety concerns with the Mount Fuji circuit,
A marshal and photographer were killed by debris following a collision involving Gilles Villeneuve's Ferrari and Ronnie Peterson's Tyrrell P34 on lap six. They had both been standing in a prohibited area of the track when the accident occurred. The marshal was trying to clear spectators away from the area.
After the race concluded, both Hunt and Reutemann left the circuit immediately to catch a flight home, leaving only Depailler and his engineer on the podium.Rules changed for the following year, thereafter making the podium celebration mandatory for the first three drivers in the races (from the 1978 Argentine Grand Prix onwards).
Comments (0)