Homecoming tinged with sadness
Maranello, 18 October – The return home was tinged with sadness for Scuderia Ferrari. The long journey back to base for some of the team after the Korean Grand Prix, while another group stayed out in the Far East before heading for India, was marred by the tragic accident that occurred during the Indy Car race at Las Vegas, which took place during what was Sunday night in Korea. All the Ferrari personnel who were in Incheon airport watched in shock the footage of the terrible crash that led to the death of Dan Wheldon. “These sort of images remind one that motor sport is always dangerous, with death always lying in wait,” said Stefano Domenicali. “However, at the same time one needs to recognise and appreciate even more the efforts of the past few years to increase the level of safety of Formula 1 cars and the circuits they race on. Risk can never be completely eradicated, but it can be reduced and we must thank the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile for its continued efforts on this front and, perhaps even more importantly, on the roads.”
Wheldon’s death was a shock for Felipe Massa, who learned of it, when he landed in Paris before getting a connection to Sao Paolo in Brazil. “It’s terrible news,” Felipe told www.ferrari.com. “I first met Dan in 2004, when he took part in the 500 Miles of Granja Viana, when he was invited by Tony Kanaan, who raced with him in Indy Cars: along with Rubens Barrichello, he won the event that year and the next. He seemed a really nice person and I am very sad to hear of his death. All my condolences go to his wife and two little children.”
Today, many of the men and women who work for Ferrari, including Domenicali, came together at the Sacra Famiglia parish church in Modena to say a final farewell to Pasquale Danza, who had worked in the logistics department at the Scuderia and who passed away last Saturday. There were few words but plenty of hugs among those who shared their grief at the death of a good person who loved and was passionate about his work and Ferrari.
Credit: Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro (www.ferrari.com)
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