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Exclusive F1 Rejects Interview with SAM POSEY
Interview by Stephen Slater |
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Sam Posey is one of the greats of American motor racing. Over 20 years, his career included drives in just about every single major category and event: from sportscars, Can-Am, Trans-Am, ICM, Formula A, USAC Indy Cars, IMSA and Formula 5000, to the Sebring 12hrs, Daytona 24hrs, Le Mans 24hrs, Indy 500 and even the Bathurst 1000.However, his career also featured two brief forays into F1 - one as the third works Surtess in 1971, and the second when his Indy Car team bought its own car for Posey to run in 1972. And, of course, since 1998 he has been one of the voices of F1 in the US, commentating for Speedvision. Still busy today, immersed in the racing world, he was tracked down by F1 Rejects' UK Correspondent Stephen Slater, we asked him if he would answer some questions for us about his career, and he graciously obliged! |
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• Where were you born and where did you grow up?
I was born in New York City in 1944. My dad was killed at the end of World War 2, so I grew up as an only child with a wonderful mother who taught me how to drive in the fields of our farm up in Connecticut and that love of driving stuck with me my whole life. At the same time I was pursuing a career in art, so at the beginning it was more of a hobby than a career. | |
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• Did you always long for a chance to make it into Formula One?
When I started, my whole dream was to get into Formula One. But honestly I didn't think I had a chance. When I became successful in Can-Am though, I began to think that it was possible, from a skill point of view, to get into Formula One. | |
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• What events led to you competing in the 1971 US Grand Prix?
Well, I had spoken with John Surtees that summer about possibly competing in the end of season race at Watkins Glen. And Surtees said that yes, there was a possibility, as he would be fielding three cars. | |
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• Take us through the weekend...
When I first arrived at Watkins Glen, I was worried that I might not get the drive because the sponsor of Rolf Stommelen (who would have been the regular driver but was forced out because of injury) had requested that Gijs van Lennep take his place. That left John Surtees in a difficult position because he had promised me the drive. So what he did was during practise he let us both take the car out to see who was better. I turned out to be much quicker than Lennep, so I got the drive. | |
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• Did you enjoy the race?
It was so unbelievable to be in it and I was racked with nerves before the start. At the start I blew it because I couldn't hear the engine, which meant I got away at much too low revs. I only managed to regain a couple of places before the engine blew very early on. At the end of the day I could say I was a Formula One driver, but I hadn't really done anything that spectacular! | |
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• So in 1972 you made your second and last F1 appearance, at the same track. Tell us about it...
It was much better the second year. We secured the third car by renting it through my US sponsor, so I knew I was going to be in the race which led to a much more settled and sensible approach. I ran in midfield for most of the race and attrition brought me up to 10th place near the end. I lost a place on the last lap when Graham Hill sneaked past me at the last corner. It was great to have finished though. | |
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• Did you intend to return to Formula One after that?
Well, it just didn't work out. I felt that I had fulfilled my dream. I turned down an offer to race in Formula 2 because it was so dangerous, and I just realised that I wasn't good enough to be world champion and really lost interest in motorsport. I became really worried about the safety. | |
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• When did you begin your commentating career?
That came as a lucky chance. For the Indy 500 in 1974, Jackie Stewart, who was ABC's regular commentator, couldn't make it back from Monaco to cover the 500 in time. So they thought of me because I had done a really good interview at Le Mans the previous year and they liked what they heard. I took to it like a duck to water. | |
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• How long do you intend to keep commentating?
I think the Japanese GP might be my last. But I don't know... | |
| Click here to read Sam's biography on our site! |
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