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  • 14/05/2025
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00:00:00Usterreichring is located in Zeltwig, Austria, 120 miles southeast of Salzburg.
00:00:06It is the most beautiful setting for a Grand Prix racing event possible,
00:00:11surrounded by lush green countryside that rolls to the jagged mountaintops,
00:00:15forming an unusual camaraderie with the cold, noisy, mechanical world of Formula One.
00:00:22But even this intense, high-speed world submits slightly to the more relaxed mountain atmosphere.
00:00:27The Austrian event is always recalled as a very enjoyable Grand Prix weekend.
00:00:34But it is possibly the most international race on the F1 Tour.
00:00:39Because of its location, the home fans find themselves a minority in a crowd topping 100,000 spectators.
00:00:47Over 40% of the ticket holders are Italians.
00:00:50Some 15% follow up their home Grand Prix by traveling from Germany.
00:00:55And this is the closest GP to the communist Eastern Bloc countries,
00:01:00attracting thousands of fans from Yugoslavia, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia.
00:01:05What a great example a Grand Prix weekend must make as the ultimate Western capitalistic sporting event.
00:01:121983 marks the 14th GP to be held at this extremely fast 3.7-mile track.
00:01:19The altitude and long straights make Usterreichring another turbo circuit.
00:01:25But the Ford Cosworth-powered cars will be having a slight advantage negotiating the many challenging corners.
00:01:31The turbo has won this event only once, when René Arnoux drove his Renault to victory in 1980,
00:01:38setting a track record at over 143 miles an hour.
00:01:42The excitable Italian contingent are trying to cheer the red cars of Ferrari on to their second straight victory.
00:01:50While the locals shout in unison for Austrian national hero, Niki Lauda,
00:01:55now in his second full season out of retirement, driving the Ford Cosworth-powered McLaren.
00:02:00This is John Bisignano.
00:02:02I'll be your host, along with Brian Kreisky,
00:02:05for this 90-minute ESPN coverage of the Austrian Grand Prix for Formula One racing cars.
00:02:11Brian and I will be presenting technical reports, driver interviews,
00:02:16all the latest F1 updates, plus the fantastic Grand Prix race action.
00:02:21Please join us after this short break for a special report.
00:02:25Formula One, how much does it all cost?
00:02:30This is the time frame where I normally cover a major technical report.
00:02:39But this weekend, we have a special subject entitled Formula One, how much does it all cost?
00:02:45Our objective will be to expose the true cost of campaigning a Formula One team.
00:02:51And what better place to start than with one of the men who pay all the bills,
00:02:55is Frank Williams, owner-manager of Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited.
00:03:01Frank, how much money is involved to campaign two cars capable of winning the world championship?
00:03:06The cost varies in the type of team to the type of team.
00:03:09A major manufacturer like Renault will probably spend two or three times what we will spend.
00:03:13In 1984, we anticipate spending, even though our engines will be free,
00:03:18we will be spending approximately four and a half million pounds sterling.
00:03:22That's about seven, seven and a half million dollars.
00:03:24Now, how is that broken down?
00:03:26How much of that is covered by sponsorship?
00:03:29Oh, nearly all of it is sponsorship,
00:03:31because you can't predict accurately at all how much revenue from prize money that you would generate.
00:03:35So you have to go to obtain total coverage, financial coverage, from sponsorship.
00:03:42One isn't always that lucky, and you have to use all of your prize money.
00:03:45But in the main, it's 90%, 95% of sponsorship.
00:03:50So the prize money or the start money is just frosting on top of the cake?
00:03:54If you get enough of it, and if you've got enough sponsorship in the first place to cover all of your costs,
00:03:58which almost never happens.
00:04:00The most heavily paid are the drivers.
00:04:02Now, we hear about six- and seven-figure numbers for driver salaries.
00:04:06Do either of your drivers get that kind of money?
00:04:10I can't be specific, because that's not proper.
00:04:12But a world-class driver will earn in excess, will be paid by his team, a million dollars plus.
00:04:19And he'll earn more than that from prize money and sponsorship endorsements, etc.
00:04:23Do you feel that that's worth it, to pay a driver for that much,
00:04:27just for driving the car and product endorsement?
00:04:29Uh, frankly, I don't, but you cannot deny market forces.
00:04:32And if there's several people chasing the same senior or top driver,
00:04:36if you're prepared to enter a duck's auction, which you maybe have to,
00:04:38then you have to match the price to keep him.
00:04:40Now, when we first met back in 1969, you had two mechanics,
00:04:44one Brabham, a spare engine that was only around once in a while.
00:04:48How much did you spend your first year in Formula One?
00:04:51Well, part of my problem then was I never controlled the money,
00:04:53so I can't answer that question accurately.
00:04:55But I suppose around 50,000, 70,000 pounds.
00:04:57But it was good racing then, close, competitive, your cars were always well prepared.
00:05:02Where did the escalation in costs come?
00:05:05What part of the car started costing more?
00:05:07The difference is that in those days, we were never winning.
00:05:10Once you're serious about winning, you spend whatever it takes within reason to do that,
00:05:14to keep up technically.
00:05:16You were one of the team managers that were originally against a turbocharged Formula One field.
00:05:21Now, today, you've announced that you'll have the Honda Turbo next year.
00:05:24Again, another cost escalation.
00:05:27Well, I've been obliged to go turbo because without it, the team won't survive.
00:05:31We now have a formula that principally is a horsepower race,
00:05:35and you only get that horsepower by running turbo engines.
00:05:37The reason I was against it, and in a way still am,
00:05:40is that Grand Prix racing should be a category of racing that adjoins the best from the driver's ability
00:05:45and the designer's ability and the horsepower ability of a manufacturer.
00:05:49And now, primarily, it very much depends on how much, how many horsepower you have,
00:05:53how you win your races.
00:05:54And I don't think that is very healthy, neither competitively nor financially.
00:05:58Certainly, the Formula Now as it exists can only be supported by motor car manufacturers.
00:06:03So, $7 million.
00:06:05How would you go about reducing any costs in Formula One, then?
00:06:09Once you've started on a program, it's very difficult to backtrack,
00:06:12but I suppose you have to restrict the horsepower.
00:06:16You were the first man to go to the Middle East for sponsorship.
00:06:19How did that all come about?
00:06:21Necessity.
00:06:22I needed the money, and I figured there was some money there if you tried hard enough to find it.
00:06:26What do you provide your sponsors throughout a racing season?
00:06:30What do we give them?
00:06:31Well, we hope a lot of international exposure, principally on television,
00:06:36a good, successful image, and an association with very competitive, high technology.
00:06:41Frank, you've been at the top of the sport for the last three years,
00:06:45three championships in those many seasons.
00:06:48Is your interest waning at all?
00:06:50What would it take for you to actually leave Formula One?
00:06:53Well, what it would take is for me to lose interest,
00:06:57but I just don't think that's ever going to happen.
00:07:00I've been in it for a long time, and I would guess I'll be in it
00:07:02until they carry me away somewhere.
00:07:04Thank you very much, Frank.
00:07:06We're with Morris Nunn, who is the owner-manager of the Theodore Racing Team.
00:07:09Mo, it's been said that over the years you've gotten more racing out of the dollar than anyone else.
00:07:15How much does your team spend on a full Grand Prix season?
00:07:19This year we will spend about $1.1 million.
00:07:24Now, we've just been talking to Frank Williams, as you know,
00:07:28and he spends a great deal more of that.
00:07:29How can you compete against a team that's outspending you by three times as much?
00:07:34Well, we can't really compete in sheer competition.
00:07:39All we can hope is that we try to do the job as well as we can with the dollars we have,
00:07:47but we could go a lot quicker with more dollars.
00:07:50Dollars, I'm afraid, in Formula One buys you seconds, buys you lap time,
00:07:57better engines, you know, a lot more testing.
00:08:01So, you know, development, you could just go a lot quicker.
00:08:04Now, Mo, you've always depended on your drivers bringing money into the team.
00:08:09Why hasn't Theodore Racing been able to find their own commercial sponsors?
00:08:14I think that's down to me, that maybe I'm just not a good sponsor, Chase.
00:08:22We try our best, but it's very difficult when you're a small team
00:08:26to convince a major company to sponsor you.
00:08:32I mean, normally major companies like to get involved with also big companies
00:08:37that are sound and financially successful.
00:08:40So it's difficult to get someone to give you that chance.
00:08:45So your role within Formula One is to provide a medium ground.
00:08:50I mean, your cars score points, they represent their sponsors well,
00:08:54but you still can't draw the big dollar companies.
00:08:57Is that what you're saying?
00:08:59Yeah, that's true.
00:09:00You know, so normally we, I would say our team is looked upon as,
00:09:05of the smaller teams, one where a new driver can come in
00:09:10and get the best dollar deal that he's able to, you know,
00:09:16get the best car for himself, in as much that I think right at the moment
00:09:20the seven Grand Prix drivers here started with our team.
00:09:24But as soon as we've trained them or done the first year,
00:09:27they have their hopes set on a bigger team.
00:09:31Mo, what would it take for you to stop racing in Formula One?
00:09:35The, if I can't raise a minimum of two and a quarter million dollars next year,
00:09:45then I will stop.
00:09:46And also, I will definitely stop Formula One
00:09:49if we had to continue with the Cosworth engine.
00:09:52So there you have the story.
00:09:54Two teams competing for the same world championship,
00:09:57separated by only two seconds on the grid
00:09:59and six million dollars in the bank.
00:10:01It was Graham Hill that said,
00:10:04Speed costs money.
00:10:05How fast do you want to go?
00:10:07We'll be right back with more ESPN coverage of this Austrian Grand Prix.
00:10:12Please stay tuned.
00:10:13Practicing around the 3.692 mile Oesterreicherring circuit,
00:10:29car number 27,
00:10:30the man in pole position for the first time in his Grand Prix career,
00:10:33Frenchman Patrick Tombé with the Ferrari
00:10:35who went round in a 1 minute 29.871 second lap
00:10:39and average speed of just under 149 miles an hour.
00:10:44We're with Patrick Tombé, Team Ferrari,
00:10:46who has just nipped his teammate into the pole position.
00:10:50Patrick, did you take any extra chances
00:10:52getting that pole position out there?
00:10:54Did I ever?
00:10:55Yes, yes I did.
00:10:56I psyched myself up for 10 minutes before going out,
00:11:00saved my last set of tires for the very end.
00:11:04I was waiting for the traffic to be as little as possible
00:11:09and I did about five, six laps in my mind just before going out
00:11:15so I could memorize and visualize exactly what I had to do at every corner
00:11:20and I did go out and well, a couple of times.
00:11:25Put it up.
00:11:25Did they make any changes to the car right before you went out, Patrick?
00:11:29Well, we tried with the first set of qualifiers
00:11:31to do a little adjustment to the car
00:11:34but I was not really pleased with it
00:11:35so we came back to the original setup
00:11:37and then we took a little bit more front wing off
00:11:42and that helped.
00:11:44How much of a race advantage is it to start from the pole position?
00:11:48Well, as you remember last weekend in Hockenheim
00:11:52it was not too much of an advantage.
00:11:54You need to finish the race and well, obviously you need to start from the front
00:11:58but you need to finish it first.
00:12:00That's what counts. Pole position is a little game, it's an exciting one, it's interesting
00:12:08but the most important thing for me at the moment is the race.
00:12:11Well, there's one man here in Austria who seems to be very happy
00:12:15the man second on the grid, Frenchman René Arnoux who of course won the German Grand Prix
00:12:20just six days ago and moves into fourth place in the World Championship.
00:12:24René with the second Ferrari of course there, powered by the very powerful and reliable V6 Ferrari engine
00:12:32turning out something like 700 brake horsepower
00:12:35Arnoux qualified second with a one minute 29.935 second lap
00:12:41so less than one tenth separating the two Ferrari drivers on the grid.
00:12:46The Ferrari team of course lie third and fourth in the World Drivers' Championship
00:12:50and lead the Manufacturers' Championship prior to the race here in Austria.
00:12:54It will be interesting to see which of the two Ferrari drivers will act as team leader.
00:12:59Out qualifying the works Renault cars and third on the grid the British driver Nigel Mansell
00:13:04with the Lotus 94T, powered of course by the turbocharged Renault engine.
00:13:09Mansell went round in a one minute 30.457 second lap.
00:13:13The Lotus team really returning to competitive form with their new engineer Gerard Decorage
00:13:18who recently came over to the Lotus team from the Italian Alfa Romeo Iquipe.
00:13:26Nigel Mansell, John Player Team Lotus.
00:13:29This is only your third time out with the Renault powered Formula One car
00:13:32but you're showing the factory drivers the way around here.
00:13:35How does that feel?
00:13:36It obviously feels very good and I'm very pleased with the team
00:13:40because in three races this is the first practice session that has worked almost perfect
00:13:45and obviously we've been repaid back because I've done a good job with the car.
00:13:50We're on P4 at the moment.
00:13:53The mechanics have done a superb job.
00:13:55The engine, the Renault engines work perfectly
00:13:57and the John Player Special has flown.
00:13:59The first half of the season was done with a Cosworth powered car.
00:14:03Did you have to change your driving style quite a bit once you moved into the Renault?
00:14:07I think it'd be true to say when you go and drive a turbo you have to change your driving style a lot
00:14:13because when you're on the power, as soon as you come off the throttle, the engine still goes
00:14:18so you can't brake straight away.
00:14:20So you have to change your style quite a lot.
00:14:22Now with you leading the pack within the team here, how are the relations between you and Elio?
00:14:27No problems at all because when I've had problems, Elio has been leading the team
00:14:33and now he's got problems, I'm leading the team.
00:14:35We're two professional drivers and we pay to do the job and we do it as well as we can.
00:14:40Nigel, what about next year?
00:14:41We knew that you were somewhat unhappy having to spend the first half of the year with the Cosworth powered car.
00:14:47Are you and Lotus going to be together again next year?
00:14:49Well, it's a good guessing game this, isn't it?
00:14:52But I see no reason why to leave a team that's just starting to come well again.
00:14:56I've been with them for the last three years actually racing, four years with the relationship I've had with them
00:15:02and I see no reason to change unless of course you get offered a drive which is quicker.
00:15:09And there's not too many drives about that are quicker at the moment.
00:15:12What drive would you consider over the Lotus drive?
00:15:15Well, obviously the Ferrari drive, the last couple of races that prove they're on the front row of the grid here again.
00:15:21If you got offered a Ferrari drive then I think you'd have to think very carefully about it.
00:15:26What about Renault?
00:15:27Oh well, yes, well that's a good drive, good drive to have.
00:15:32I think anticipating your next question, there's four or five drives that would be worth having
00:15:40and I think you only need to look at the grid as to see which drives those are.
00:15:44In fourth place on the grid is 1981 world champion the Brazilian driver Nelson Piquet
00:15:50driving the Parmalat Brabham.
00:15:52He went round in a one minute 30.566 second lap.
00:15:56Piquet of course lies second in the world championship.
00:16:00He's nine points behind Alain Fosu who leads the championship prior to this race.
00:16:05Remember, including this race we still have five more races in the World Grand Prix series
00:16:10and you can be sure that Nelson Piquet will be right up there in the front
00:16:14with that very attractive Parmalat Brabham, of course, powered by the BMW four-cylinder turbocharged engine.
00:16:21Nelson, very much a thinking driver, says that driving is all he knows how to do
00:16:27and he certainly does that very well indeed.
00:16:30Although he is nine points behind post in the championship,
00:16:33many people tip this man to be the 1983 world champion.
00:16:39Fifth on the grid is the man who leads the world championship,
00:16:44who has already won three Grand Prix so far this year.
00:16:47Alain Prost, who of course drives the Renault Elf Turbo.
00:16:51There behind him his teammate, the American driver Eddie Cheever,
00:16:54who was in second place in the German Grand Prix
00:16:57and retired just a few laps before the end.
00:16:59And for Alain Prost, a few problems in practice,
00:17:03but nevertheless a good performance.
00:17:05Third row of the grid, fifth place in practice.
00:17:09Proost, very much a thinking driver, a tactician.
00:17:16He's shown very well this year, as has the reliability of the Renaults.
00:17:22Proost then getting into his car in readiness for practice here at the Ostreichers Ring.
00:17:293.692 miles, we remind you.
00:17:3453 laps a Grand Prix will be run.
00:17:36That's a total distance of just under 196 miles.
00:17:40And it's going to be a very fast race,
00:17:42subject of course to it always being a dry race.
00:17:45The weather conditions here during the course of practice being dry,
00:17:49a little bit humid, temperatures in the mid-70s.
00:17:51In sixth place on the grid and completing the third row of the grid,
00:17:55the second Palm Lat Bravem for Ricciardo Petrese,
00:17:58who scored his first World Championship points at Hockenheim
00:18:01one week ago when he finished third in that race.
00:18:05Well, Ricciardo hasn't had a lot of luck so far in the 1983 season,
00:18:09with the exception of the German Grand Prix,
00:18:11so obviously hoping to do well here,
00:18:13but sharing his car in the first practice session
00:18:15with his team leader, Nelson Piquet.
00:18:17Ricciardo talking on the right to Gordon Murray,
00:18:20the engineer and designer of the Brabham BT-52B,
00:18:25and once again a familiar look to the top six in qualifying,
00:18:28two Ferraris on the front row, then the JPS,
00:18:31then two Brabham's in fourth and sixth place
00:18:33and the Renault in fifth place.
00:18:35A surprise seventh on the grid and going extremely well,
00:18:38Bruno Giacomelli with the Tillman Hart Turbo,
00:18:41the Candy Tillman,
00:18:42and they're an obviously delighted Bruno Giacomelli,
00:18:45who incidentally drove for Alfa Romeo last year.
00:18:48Eighth on the grid is the second of the Renaults
00:18:52for the American driver, Eddie Cheever.
00:18:54Eddie also having a bit of a problematic practice,
00:18:56his car not handling to his liking,
00:18:59and John Bisignano was down in the pit lane
00:19:01to talk to Eddie after he came in from practice.
00:19:07We're with Eddie Cheever,
00:19:08the American driver with Team Renault.
00:19:10Eddie, last weekend at Hockenheim,
00:19:12an excellent drive by you all the way up to second place.
00:19:15Then what happened?
00:19:17I had a cable that went from the throttle linkage
00:19:21to the fuel pump that was loose,
00:19:23and I kept losing more and more throttle in the end.
00:19:25It just broke and I had no more throttle control.
00:19:28Unfortunately, this is probably the sixth time this year
00:19:32I've had little mechanical problems like that,
00:19:34and I think I've been robbed, you could say,
00:19:38of about 25 points.
00:19:39Well, we're not really in that good of shape here in Austria,
00:19:42but you never know.
00:19:43It might rain, the track conditions.
00:19:46Formula One is so competitive that even if you just have
00:19:48like a five to ten degree temperature change,
00:19:51one tire company has advantage to the other,
00:19:53or otherwise you lose it.
00:19:54And it all depends on the weather.
00:19:56Eddie, this first win has been eluding you.
00:19:58Is that almost like a barrier to break through
00:20:01the first win down the road for you?
00:20:04Like I said before, I've been in the position
00:20:07to be able to win more than one race this year,
00:20:09but I've had lots of mechanical problems.
00:20:11The most important thing for me is to be quick.
00:20:14If I'm quick and competitive and in the leading group,
00:20:18then I know that sooner or later,
00:20:19somebody else will have bad luck and I won't.
00:20:22But the most important thing for me
00:20:24is that I'm in a competitive car, I'm in a Renault,
00:20:26and I know it's a winner, and I know we're going well,
00:20:28and I see no reason why one of these weekends
00:20:32I'll be the one on the podium.
00:20:34Out qualifying, the man who finished second
00:20:36in the German Grand Prix, Andrea de Cesaris,
00:20:38is his teammate Mauro Baldi with the first
00:20:40of the Alfa Romeo turbos, qualifying in ninth place,
00:20:44and there is Andrea, who qualifies two places behind him
00:20:47with the Alfa Romeo V8 turbo engine.
00:20:50He qualified in 11th place.
00:20:53De Cesaris, who scored his first world championship points,
00:20:55and Alfa's highest ever placing in the German Grand Prix,
00:20:58of course, last week, when he finished in second place,
00:21:01but look at the smoke when they start that Alfa turbo.
00:21:04Qualifying in tenth place, the second, Candy Tolman,
00:21:09for the British driver, Derek Warwick,
00:21:11and qualifying down in 14th place on the grid,
00:21:14fastest non-turbo, that of Nicky Lauda with the McLaren Cosworth.
00:21:18This, of course, is to be McLaren's last race
00:21:20with a normally aspirated Cosworth engine.
00:21:22From Zanforth, the next race has a new Porsche turbo,
00:21:25and what did Nicky Lauda think of that?
00:21:27I'm really happy that this car is going into the museum,
00:21:29because I think that it should go,
00:21:31because the difference on turbo engines now,
00:21:34to aspirated engines, is 150 horsepower.
00:21:37150 horsepower is more than four or five seconds around here,
00:21:40so without a turbo engine, you might as well not race.
00:21:43This is definitely a turbo circuit, then?
00:21:45A hundred percent.
00:21:46I think every circuit now is a turbo circuit,
00:21:48because the engines are so good now
00:21:50that you can't compete anymore without them.
00:21:52When you joined McLaren,
00:21:54did you think that you'd have a turbo-powered car
00:21:56this early in the season?
00:21:58No, I think it's very late, to be honest.
00:22:00I planned to be here in March, April.
00:22:03We took our time to make it especially work very well.
00:22:08I think the program, the way it turned out,
00:22:11is going to be very good,
00:22:12and I hope to be able to prove it on Zanforth in two weeks.
00:22:15Qualifying in 16th place on the grid,
00:22:18having a few handling problems,
00:22:19the spirit Honda Turbo, Stefan Johansson.
00:22:22But the big news of the weekend here in Austria
00:22:24is that the Williams Grand Prix team
00:22:26are to have the excellent Honda V6 turbo engine
00:22:30in their Grand Prix cars in the 1984 season,
00:22:33and may well debut that car in the last race
00:22:36of the 1983 season in South Africa.
00:22:39Michele Alboretti, seen here,
00:22:41the man who won, of course,
00:22:42the 1983 Detroit Grand Prix
00:22:44in the 1982 Las Vegas Grand Prix,
00:22:46had a brand new Benetton-Tyrill 012 to try out here.
00:22:50This car's very small, indeed, by Formula One standards,
00:22:54powered by the normally aspirated Ford Cosworth DFY,
00:22:58derivative of the DFV, slightly more power,
00:23:01but the rumour also was that there may well be
00:23:04a Cosworth Turbo in the back of one of Tyrell's cars
00:23:07in the 1984 Grand Prix season.
00:23:10The double-wing car on the back of this very futuristic
00:23:15Benetton-Tyrill 012,
00:23:17and there with the DFY engine installed in the rear.
00:23:21This car has been designed, as of all Tyrells in the past,
00:23:25by Maurice Philippe.
00:23:27As we said, by Formula One standards,
00:23:29this car very small, indeed.
00:23:31But in the end, Michele decided to run the Benetton-Tyrill 011
00:23:35in the race, the same car that he won the recent
00:23:38Detroit Grand Prix.
00:23:42Next on ESPN is an exclusive interview by Brian Kreisky
00:23:45with Bernie Eccleston.
00:23:50With us in Austria is Bernie Eccleston,
00:23:52and his interview here is going to comprise our major interview
00:23:56for ESPN's auto racing coverage of the 1983 Austrian Grand Prix.
00:24:02Bernie, there's been a lot of talk about John Frasco
00:24:05bringing kart racing to Europe.
00:24:07Do you regard kart racing as a major challenge
00:24:10to the World Championship?
00:24:13Well, we have this type of racing already.
00:24:15We have this Formula Mondale thing,
00:24:18where all people have the same type of engine,
00:24:21the same tyres and the same chassis and that type of thing.
00:24:24We already have that type of racing in Europe.
00:24:26Well, he said that kart racing is obviously on the up-and-up.
00:24:30He's taken over, next year I understand, from Long Beach.
00:24:33He feels that the man...
00:24:34Taken over what from what?
00:24:36They're opening at Long Beach,
00:24:37and he's been quoted as saying that the man who wins their series
00:24:42could ultimately claim the World Championship.
00:24:44He's gone into print on that.
00:24:45What do you say to something like that?
00:24:47I mean, as a matter of fact,
00:24:48they could probably win a series that they call it.
00:24:50I mean, it's a domestic race in America.
00:24:53But don't you see it as a direct threat to Formula One
00:24:56in America, then, for example?
00:24:58I don't think so, no.
00:24:59I don't see what the...
00:25:00We're the World Championship.
00:25:01You know, we've got Ferrari, Renault, Alfa Romeo,
00:25:03Brabham, Tyrrell, Williams.
00:25:05All people have been going a long time, got a history.
00:25:07The World Championship's been going since 1950.
00:25:10It's got its names as Gonzales and Moss and Fangio
00:25:13and all these people.
00:25:14It's a tradition.
00:25:16There's been talk of you having negotiations
00:25:17with the Indianapolis Speedway.
00:25:19What sort of rumours...
00:25:20What truths are there in that?
00:25:22Truth in the rumours?
00:25:23Yeah.
00:25:24There's always a bit of truth in every rumour,
00:25:25I suppose, isn't there?
00:25:26Yeah.
00:25:27What does it mean?
00:25:28Can you tell the American audience of us?
00:25:30Well, we used to have a race.
00:25:32The Indy used to be part of the World Championship.
00:25:35So, maybe it ought to come back again.
00:25:38What about American racing?
00:25:40We've lost Long Beach.
00:25:42New York has been postponed,
00:25:43and Las Vegas is not taking place.
00:25:45It seems that Formula One is on the decline in America,
00:25:48and kart racing is on the increase.
00:25:50Does that bother you?
00:25:52Well, you know, two things.
00:25:53Firstly, it's not a case of comparing anything
00:25:56with anything else, you know?
00:25:57Because they have lots of forms of domestic racing in America.
00:26:00They have very successful stock car racing,
00:26:03which works down south, you know?
00:26:05And they have this kart racing,
00:26:07which used to be the IndyCar racing,
00:26:09which they run in different venues now.
00:26:11We're not at Vegas out of choice.
00:26:14It's us that are not at Vegas, not that...
00:26:17Why are you not at Vegas?
00:26:18Because they couldn't provide the television that we wanted.
00:26:22But what about the TV coverage for the kart race?
00:26:24Well, they say they can have four cameras.
00:26:25We need 22 cameras.
00:26:27That's the difference.
00:26:28You know, we try to...
00:26:29We're sending a signal out worldwide.
00:26:31We're sending a signal out to 40 countries
00:26:33to be viewed by anything between 80 and 120 million viewers.
00:26:37And they need, before the stations will take these sort of signals,
00:26:40because they need quality.
00:26:41And unless we can guarantee them quality,
00:26:43they won't take the signal.
00:26:44And NBC weren't prepared to put this sort of thing into Vegas.
00:26:49What would you say to the critics who say that
00:26:51Bernie Eccleston is too authoritarian?
00:26:53If he can't have things his way, it doesn't tend to happen at all.
00:26:56I try to do things the right way.
00:26:59Well, whether it's right or wrong,
00:27:01I try to do things the way that's the best for us.
00:27:04You don't feel that if it's not done your way, it can't be done at all?
00:27:09It probably could be done better
00:27:12when somebody comes along and does a better good.
00:27:14Well, you gave a test to Davy Jones quite recently.
00:27:17He's a young American driver, very young,
00:27:19successful in the British Formula 3 series.
00:27:21We've been following him in racing.
00:27:23Why did you do that?
00:27:24Well, I'd like to see...
00:27:26There's a lot of young American drivers,
00:27:28and it would be good to get them into Formula 1
00:27:29before they get destroyed in an uncompetitive formula, that's all.
00:27:32You know, they come out of Formula 3 in Europe, which is good.
00:27:35It's very competitive.
00:27:37And a lot of our old-timers that can't make it in Formula 1
00:27:39going to kart, obviously, which, you know, you can see.
00:27:42So what we like to do is capture the young Americans
00:27:44before they get spoiled in uncompetitive racing.
00:27:46People who are watching this report of the Austrian Grand Prix,
00:27:49a lot of people would say that all the money that's involved here,
00:27:52millions and millions of dollars, is spoiling the racing.
00:27:55What would you say to them?
00:27:57Well, I don't know how it's spoiling it.
00:27:58I mean, we seem to have good racing.
00:28:00The audiences are getting bigger.
00:28:02There's more people here than there's ever been.
00:28:04I've talked about people actually coming to the race.
00:28:06We have a bigger television audience in more countries.
00:28:09What would you say to people who are watching you now
00:28:12to convince them to come to a Formula 1 race,
00:28:15a Formula 1 Grand Prix, as opposed to, say, to a kart?
00:28:18What have you got to offer more?
00:28:20Well, we are more like an event.
00:28:22It's like going to see Sinatra.
00:28:24You know, there's anyone Sinatra.
00:28:27But how would you tell them?
00:28:28I mean, a lot of people might not like Sinatra.
00:28:31No, but they know what Sinatra stands for.
00:28:33You know, you can't guarantee...
00:28:35When people used to go and see Ali fight,
00:28:37you couldn't guarantee it was a good fight,
00:28:39but people win because it was the best.
00:28:42And you can never guarantee what's going to be the best racing
00:28:44and what isn't going to be the best racing.
00:28:46In general, the races we put on are good races.
00:28:48It's a good event.
00:28:49There's so many other things going on all the time.
00:28:51It's something glamorous.
00:28:52It's just different.
00:28:53Can we expect to see another race in America next year,
00:28:56apart from the Detroit Grand Prix for Formula 1 cars?
00:28:58We want three races in America, and that's what we'll have.
00:29:00It's a case of us selecting the venues.
00:29:02Are you saying in 1984 you are almost certain
00:29:05that we will have three races in the United States?
00:29:08Sure, sure, sure.
00:29:09You couldn't tell us where they're going to be?
00:29:11No, at the moment, no.
00:29:12Finally, on the point of view of drivers,
00:29:14you've been quoted as saying that you think drivers earn far too much money.
00:29:17There's fairly heavy fees paid.
00:29:19What do you think of your drivers, Nelson Piquet and Riccardo Patrese?
00:29:23I think they're terrific.
00:29:24Good guys.
00:29:25Quick and good.
00:29:26And what about the financial rewards for them?
00:29:28Do you think they earn it?
00:29:29Well, I suppose it's what they can get, you know, that's the market price.
00:29:35I pay them the market price.
00:29:37If I don't pay, somebody else will.
00:29:39But how would you finally sum up to us Formula One racing over the next 12 months?
00:29:44Well, you know, it's every day and every, you know, we try to improve everything.
00:29:50We improve our relationship with the press and the press report and we get more.
00:29:53I mean, you must remember, we get to a Grand Prix, something like Monte Carlo, for example,
00:29:58about a thousand press credentials are issued for that race.
00:30:01And this is, we get between eight and a thousand press come to every race.
00:30:05So you can see the type of interest that we generate.
00:30:09ESPN Auto Racing 1983 will be back here at the Austrian Grand Prix after this short break.
00:30:24Race day dawn bright and sunny, the sun shining down, the temperatures in the low 80s,
00:30:30the ideal racing conditions around this very fast Osorakishirin Grand Prix circuit in the mountains of Austria.
00:30:38And the crowd have come to this circuit in their tens of thousands,
00:30:42an estimated 100,000 spectators here to watch what we think will be a very exciting race,
00:30:48perhaps one of the best races of the season.
00:30:51Well, Grand Prix racing has plenty of glamour, plenty of excitement and plenty of entertainment for the Capitoli.
00:30:57And let's watch some of the entertainment put on by the promoters of this year's Austrian Grand Prix.
00:31:03Four very different types of aerobatic displays.
00:31:06First of all, the Italian Marchettis is a single engine aircraft.
00:31:11And we watch some of the incredible aerobatics that they maneuver very close to the ground.
00:31:16Remember, the Osorakishirin itself is built on the side of a fairly high mountain.
00:31:22So you can imagine just how close these aircraft are coming to the ground.
00:31:31That display was followed by four of the RAF Jaguar aircraft.
00:31:35These four multi-role combat aircraft, part of the NATO force based at Graz.
00:31:50Then we have one of the Puma helicopters performing some incredible stunts.
00:31:54And you can see the pine trees behind him.
00:31:57So you can just imagine how close he is to the side of the mountain as the Puma goes through its routine of showing just what this helicopter can do in very, very confined spaces.
00:32:12The parachutists finding their mark on the Osorakishirin track.
00:32:16For the culmination of all these displays is this aircraft, the unbelievable British built RAF Harrier.
00:32:23Seen for the very first time in display here in Austria.
00:32:31A truly remarkable aircraft, used of course very successfully in the recent Falklands conflict.
00:32:37Once again, another very low pass by the Harrier in service with the RAF who are displaying it here, but based in nearby Graz.
00:32:54And here showing its obvious characteristics.
00:32:56Once again, those lush pine trees in the background.
00:32:59What an amazing aircraft this is.
00:33:05You can see the air vortex underneath us.
00:33:08The Harrier comes down to land vertically.
00:33:11And will once again take off vertically.
00:33:21What an impressive sight it makes, surrounded by all those pine trees.
00:33:29The noise of the aircraft alone enough to frighten anybody I would think.
00:33:38And it finally takes a bow before leaving us.
00:33:46And so we move on to the 53 lap Austrian Grand Prix.
00:33:51Ideal racing conditions, and it should be a very close race indeed.
00:33:55Will it be Alain Prost?
00:33:56Will it be Nelson Piquet?
00:33:57Will it be Patrick Tombe?
00:33:58Could it be Nigel Mansell or René Arnoux?
00:34:00Any one of those five and more drivers would be in with a chance of winning this year's Austrian Grand Prix.
00:34:08There's the championship scores with Prost in the lead with 42 points.
00:34:13Piquet second with 33.
00:34:14Third, Tombe with 31.
00:34:15Fourth, Arnoux with 28.
00:34:17And the current world champion, Keke Rosberg, who's down in 15th place on the grid with 25.
00:34:22Stay with us after this short message for the start of the 1983 Austrian Grand Prix.
00:34:27Welcome back to ESPN's Auto Racing 83 coverage of the Austrian Grand Prix.
00:34:28Welcome back to ESPN's Auto Racing 83 coverage of the Austrian Grand Prix.
00:34:29Seconds to go before the start of the race.
00:34:30The red lights are on.
00:34:31They've turned to green.
00:34:32And it's going to be a very crowded start.
00:34:33The track isn't that wide here at the Austrian Grand Prix.
00:34:34And it's going to be a very crowded start.
00:34:35The track isn't that wide here at the Austrian Grand Prix.
00:34:37And Piquet has made a very good start.
00:34:38So is Tom Bejan who's slowed a little bit.
00:34:50And the field is getting away now.
00:34:51And we're going to be a very crowded start.
00:34:52The track isn't that wide here at the Austrian Grand Prix.
00:34:55And Piquet has made a very good start, so has Tom Bejan who's slowed a little bit.
00:35:06the field getting away, look at Chiva going towards the barrier, almost pressing out by the barrier,
00:35:10that was a very close thing indeed, I'll go into the first chicane, out of sight, there's been an accident,
00:35:14there's been an accident, I think it's De Angelis is off, meanwhile it's Tambay leading Arnoux in 2nd place,
00:35:19Piquet in 3rd place, Mansell 4th, Post 5th, then Patrese in 6th place, and it's a very, very tight bunge,
00:35:25De Angelis is missing, Giacomelli slowed right up, and there is Ginzani who's hit Lafitte,
00:35:30and Turner's hit Sullivan and Mark Suhrer, those cars seem to be out, there's Mark Suhrer,
00:35:35Suhrer's front wheel completely askew there, so Suhrer is out in the arrows, completely unhurt,
00:35:41as is Danny Sullivan, the American driver with the Benetton 2, there's a car, Sullivan is already out of that car,
00:35:48and there's part of the wrecked Lotus Renault, number 11, the somewhat volatile Elio De Angelis,
00:35:53who there is walking back to the shots of the crowd, and what a sensational start to the Austrian Grand Prix,
00:36:00but it's Patrick Tambay on the far side, who still leads Arnoux in 2nd place, Piquet in 3rd, Mansell 4th,
00:36:04Prost 5th, Patrese 6th, Cheever in 7th place, 8th Warwick, 9th looks to be Baldi in 10th place,
00:36:09Andrea De Cesare is a push out from the crowd, the two Ferraris still lead, into the Bosch curve they go,
00:36:15the highest point of the circuit, everybody jockeying 4 positions in this very early stages of the race,
00:36:22the two Ferraris lead then, Patrick Tambay leads his teammate, Renny Arnoux in 3rd place,
00:36:27not far behind Nelson Piquet, in 4th place looks to be Alain Prost now, 5th is Mansell,
00:36:326th is Patrese, 7th is Cheever, 8th Warwick, 9th is the Alpha of De Cesare, and 10th his teammate,
00:36:38Valdi, and the two Ferraris lead, and Tambay looks to be pulling away a little bit,
00:36:43Prost 4th, and going through to 5th place is Riccardo Patrese, through goes Derek Warwick,
00:36:48Stephanie Hansen up into 11th place with the Spirit Honda, but all eyes on this battle for 1st and 2nd place,
00:36:54because I wonder who on earth is going to be the team leader, they come up towards the Bosch curve once again,
00:36:59over the brow of the hill, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th, they're pulled away a little bit,
00:37:035th place Patrese, 6th place Mansell, 7th place is Eddie Cheever, 8th place Derek Warwick with the Tolman,
00:37:09then come the two Alfa Romeos, up into the Bosch curve they come, number 27 leads, Patrick Tambay leads,
00:37:15Renni Arnu closing up now behind, in 2nd place, Nelson Piquet playing and watching brief in 3rd place,
00:37:21and a lot of smoke blowing out some of those cars, that could be dust, there's Cheever in 7th place,
00:37:268th is now Baldi with the Alfa, 9th is De Cesare with the 2nd Alfa,
00:37:30and the Tolman of Derek Warwick has gone missing at the Jochen Rint curve, they come down the main straight,
00:37:35the top 4 have pulled away, it's Tambay, Arnu, Piquet, Prost, Patrese, Mansell, Cheever, Baldi, then De Cesare,
00:37:42those are the top 9, Winklehock is in 10th place with the ATS, that brings up the top 10,
00:37:46but just look at this battle for the lead, between the top 5 cars, there's a train of cars,
00:37:50Patrick Tambay leading with the Ferrari, in 2nd place, Renni Arnu shadowing his every move,
00:37:55remember these are 3rd and 4th place in the World Championship, and I think something we ought to remember
00:38:00is that Renni Arnu was just about kicked out of the Renault team, because Alain Prost refused to drive to him,
00:38:06because he didn't obey team orders, now I just wonder what the team orders are here at the ATS,
00:38:11and there a legacy of the 1st lap accident, a fire engine, but 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, very close together indeed,
00:38:18they're bringing up into 6th place, Nigel Mansell with the Lotus Renault, remember on those Pirelli tyres,
00:38:23it's Goodyear Goodyear on the two Ferraris, and Michelin's on the Brabham,
00:38:28but this looks as if it's going to be a very close race indeed, everybody in the turbo seemed to be very evenly matched,
00:38:35the two Ferraris, there's Prost, Alain Prost now closing up on Nelson Piquet for 3rd place,
00:38:39Alain Prost in 4th place, a man who didn't have a particularly happy practice,
00:38:43remember he's down in 5th place on the grid, but look at this, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th, very close,
00:38:48and Prost looks to the inside, there's Arnu, 2nd, Piquet 3rd, and Patrese in 5th place,
00:38:52and Patrese in 5th place is also closing up, so we really have a tremendous battle on our hands
00:38:57between the top 5 cars, there's Mansell, not far behind in 6th place,
00:39:01and right behind him in 7th place will be Eni Chiva, the American driver, with the 2nd Renault Turbo,
00:39:06out of the famous Jochenrin curve, onto the main straight, once again, 2 Ferraris lead,
00:39:11Tolmeianu, Piquet, Prost, Patrese, those 5, and just look at this battle for the lead,
00:39:18Mansell also joining in 6th place with the Lotus Renault, and not far behind him in 7th place is Eddie Chiva,
00:39:24and what a train of racing cars, Formula 1 Grand Prix racing here at its very best.
00:39:29Down in towards the Sebring curve, they call this, a fast left-hander.
00:39:36This is the highest point of the circuit, it's Tambay leading, Arnu in 2nd place, 3rd place is Nelson Piquet,
00:39:49in 4th place Al-Apros, in 5th place is Riccardo Patrese, closing up in 6th place, Nigel Mansell with the Lotus.
00:39:561st to 6th place, covered then by no more than 2 and a half seconds.
00:40:01ESPN race action will continue in 4th break, stay with us.
00:40:07Welcome back to ESPN's Auto Racing 83 coverage of the Austrian Grand Prix here at the Austriker Schering,
00:40:17and what a race we have on our hands for you.
00:40:19Tambay leads, Arnu in 2nd, 3rd is Piquet, 4th, Prost, 5th Patrese,
00:40:24and there's a real battle going on between Stefan Johansson and Nicky Lauder, Johansson with the Spirit Honda Turbo,
00:40:29Nicky Lauder, the first of the normally aspirated cars, down in 10th place,
00:40:33and the top 5 still very close together, still in touch is Mansell 6, Chiever in 7th place,
00:40:39Marabaldi in 8th place, Andrea de Cesaris in 9th place.
00:40:44Two alphas going through, Tambay, Arnu, Piquet, Prost, Patrese, just like that, through the Bosch curve they go.
00:40:53These Formula 1 cars being driven absolutely on the limit,
00:40:57and the top 5 now look to have pulled away just a little bit,
00:41:00but Nelson Piquet is challenging René Arnu, the man who won the recent German Grand Prix.
00:41:06Piquet in the Parmalat Brabham.
00:41:09Now René Arnu closing out on Patrick Tambay.
00:41:14Tambay with the Ferrari, who of course won the San Marino Grand Prix,
00:41:17lies 3rd in the World Championship,
00:41:19and as we said earlier, René Arnu not known to want to stay behind.
00:41:23He wants to win the World Championship for drivers, means so much to him.
00:41:26And the two Ferraris very close together, it is Arnu going to challenge his teammate.
00:41:30Oh, he is on the inside!
00:41:32Oh my goodness, there are no team orders here for the Ferraris.
00:41:36So Ferrari first and second, still the same roller.
00:41:40Piquet in 3rd place.
00:41:42Tambay leads René Arnu.
00:41:44Through the Bosch curve they've gone.
00:41:46Ferrari, Ferrari.
00:41:48The two Ferrari V6 turbo engines, leading a BMW turbo, leading a Renault turbo.
00:41:57And what a race we have on our hands.
00:41:59Through the Jochen Rindt curve they go once more, it's Patrick Tambay leading.
00:42:02Already we've had 6 retirements, 4 cars in that opening lap.
00:42:06Accident, Elia De Angelis, Mark Seura, Danny Sullivan and Bruno Giacomelli.
00:42:10Derek Warwick retired with engine problems on lap 3.
00:42:13And an accident befell, the Detroit winner Michele Alvareto with the Benetton Tyrrell on lap 9.
00:42:19Still the leader though, Patrick Tambay.
00:42:23Second place René Arnu, seems to be dropping back just that little.
00:42:27But we still have a very close battle on our hands.
00:42:29They're soon going to be lapping the tail enders.
00:42:33Ferrari, Ferrari, Brabham.
00:42:36Tambay, Arnu, Nelson Piquet and what a race!
00:42:42Roberto Guerrero there and Jacques Lafitte.
00:42:46They're having their own private battle.
00:42:48About to be lapped by Patrick Tambay.
00:42:50And René Arnu is closing up.
00:42:54Lafitte of course, who finished 6th in the German Grand Prix.
00:42:57An experienced driver, perhaps one of the most experienced drivers on the Grand Prix scene.
00:43:01And René Arnu closes right up and looks to the inside.
00:43:04And Arnu is not obeying any team orders at all.
00:43:07And Roberto Guerrero with the Theodore Formula One car.
00:43:11Guerrero, who many people tip for great things in the future.
00:43:15Guerrero with the somewhat slow Theodore Cosworth.
00:43:18Nevertheless, in the race.
00:43:21About to be lapped by race leader Patrick Tambay.
00:43:24Stays over on the left hand side of the track.
00:43:29And first and second through.
00:43:31Side by side through the Jochen Rint curve.
00:43:33It's Patrick Tambay.
00:43:35René Arnu in second place.
00:43:37Third place there still for Nelson Piquet.
00:43:41Piquet making a challenge in fourth place.
00:43:42It's Alain Prost.
00:43:43So Prost now right behind as it comes towards the chicane.
00:43:45Will Prost make his move here.
00:43:47He goes to the inside.
00:43:48First and second Ferrari.
00:43:49And Prost bangs wheels there with Nelson Piquet.
00:43:51And Prost goes through to third place.
00:43:54That was unbelievable.
00:43:56Alain Prost really trying.
00:43:58Got past Nelson Piquet.
00:44:00But the Brabham is attacking once again.
00:44:02Will try to get back into third place.
00:44:04And look at this.
00:44:05René Arnu looking to the inside.
00:44:06René Arnu almost through.
00:44:08My goodness.
00:44:09The two Ferraris could just about touch.
00:44:11And through.
00:44:12Back into third place goes the Parmalat Brabham of Nelson Piquet.
00:44:15It's all happening here at the Ostreichers ring.
00:44:17Closing up in fifth place is Riccardo Patrese with the second Parmalat Brabham.
00:44:22And let's watch that incident again in replay.
00:44:25Alain Prost a very brave manoeuvre.
00:44:28And who says Formula One racing isn't a contact sport?
00:44:32Oh my goodness.
00:44:34This is unbelievable.
00:44:36The Ferrari's first and second.
00:44:38Patrick Tombe still fending off his team mate.
00:44:41And I should think there's going to be a few harsh words in the Ferrari pit.
00:44:45No matter what the outcome is of the 1983 Austrian Grand Prix.
00:44:50And ladies and gentlemen we really do have quite a race on our hands.
00:44:54And look at this massive public.
00:44:56Grand Prix racing really at its best.
00:44:58Piquet in third place.
00:44:59Prost back into fourth place.
00:45:01Riccardo Patrese in fifth place.
00:45:03And really Alain Prost the world champion elect he'd like to think.
00:45:09He leads the championship of course by nine points.
00:45:12Nelson Piquet in third place.
00:45:14But Patrick Tombe still leads.
00:45:16Second for René Arnaud.
00:45:18Third place dropping back a little bit.
00:45:20Looking wisely in his mirrors there is Nelson Piquet.
00:45:23A 15 second gap to sixth place man Nigel Mansell with the Lotus Renault.
00:45:28Just leading Eddie Cheever with the Renault Turbo.
00:45:31Sixth and seventh.
00:45:32No retirement set in the top seven placings.
00:45:34As from the staff.
00:45:35Tombe.
00:45:36Anu.
00:45:37Piquet.
00:45:38Prost back.
00:45:39Tracey dropping back just a little bit.
00:45:40But what a battle we have on our hands.
00:45:45Patrick Tombe with the Ferrari number 27.
00:45:48The number that is so loved by the hundreds and thousands of Italian fans.
00:45:52The number used by the late great Canadian driver Gilles Villeneuve.
00:45:56So Tombe still leads.
00:45:58Coming up to lap some back markers.
00:46:01First, second, third, fourth.
00:46:04Very close together.
00:46:05There in fifth place still is Ricardo Patrese with the second palm lap Brabham.
00:46:10And Eddie Cheever looks to be challenging for sixth place.
00:46:13Cheever alongside Nigel Mansell side by side down the straight.
00:46:16Over 180 miles an hour up towards the chicane.
00:46:19And I believe going into sixth place then will be the Renault of Eddie Cheever.
00:46:24But the top four now coming up to lap the Ligier of Jean-Pierre Jarier.
00:46:31So there's number 27.
00:46:33Patrick Tombe the leader.
00:46:34Surely Jarier will let him through on the inside.
00:46:37But no, Jarier cuts right across from the Ligier.
00:46:39Jarier about to be lapped.
00:46:41Not very sporting of him.
00:46:42No doubt he'll let him through over there.
00:46:45And look at René Arnoux.
00:46:46Arnoux looking to the inside.
00:46:48And surely to God the Ligier.
00:46:50No, the Ligier moves over and literally blocks the race.
00:46:53He blocks the race leader.
00:46:55Atrocious driving by Jean-Pierre Jarier.
00:46:57Jarier, who is a lap behind, about to be lapped, balking the race leader.
00:47:02This is lap 22 out of the 53-lap race.
00:47:05And René Arnoux looks to the inside.
00:47:07And Torbay is caught behind.
00:47:08Jarier has got to move over.
00:47:10And René Arnoux goes through into the lead.
00:47:12Torbay is in second place.
00:47:14And Jarier there still balking Patrick Tombe.
00:47:16There's Nelson Piquet in third place.
00:47:18And once again Piquet goes through on the inside.
00:47:20And takes second place.
00:47:22And still Jarier balks the early race leader Patrick Tombe.
00:47:26Who led up to 22 laps.
00:47:28And there's Tombe absolutely furious.
00:47:30And almost losing his car in his fury over Jarier.
00:47:34And Jarier really performing the most stupid manoeuvres.
00:47:38A very dangerous manoeuvre.
00:47:40When you consider these cars are running at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour.
00:47:44We have a new race leader René Arnoux.
00:47:47In second place is Nelson Piquet.
00:47:49Third place is Tombe coming into the pits.
00:47:51For the first of his scheduled pit stops I'm sure.
00:47:54Is the world championship leader Alain Prost.
00:47:58He stops.
00:47:59On goes the timing.
00:48:00Off come the wheels.
00:48:01On go the new tyres.
00:48:03On goes the fuel.
00:48:04How quick can they do it?
00:48:06He's come in quite early.
00:48:08At the completion of 22 laps.
00:48:1011.58 seconds.
00:48:12A very good.
00:48:13A very quick and efficient pit stop.
00:48:15And out goes the Renault of Alain Prost.
00:48:18And I believe probably down in sixth place.
00:48:20Well ladies and gentlemen.
00:48:21What an amazing race we have on our hands.
00:48:24And it's not even halfway through yet.
00:48:26René Arnoux leads.
00:48:27Nelson Piquet in second place.
00:48:29That's Keke Rosberg who's been lapped behind him.
00:48:34René Arnoux.
00:48:35René Arnoux.
00:48:38Through goes Arnoux.
00:48:39Piquet closing up now in second place.
00:48:41Third place will be Tombe.
00:48:44In fourth place now will be Riccardo Patrese.
00:48:46With the second Parmalat Brabham.
00:48:48Who's not that far behind Tombe.
00:48:50But what an incredibly stupid manoeuvre.
00:48:53Jean-Pierre Jarrier did.
00:48:54He had no right whatsoever to balk the race leaders.
00:48:57Who are so much quicker.
00:48:59Let's only hope something is done about that.
00:49:01He gets an official reprimand.
00:49:03Preferably with a mallet.
00:49:04Although I don't know where his brain might be.
00:49:07And look at the crowds enjoying one of the best Grand Prix's of 1983.
00:49:11Tombe goes through.
00:49:13Third place.
00:49:14There's Riccardo Patrese.
00:49:16With the Parmalat Brabham in fourth place.
00:49:21And the Parmalat Brabham is going superbly well here.
00:49:24And in comes Eddie Cheever.
00:49:25Who was of course up into fifth place.
00:49:28Elevating his teammate now.
00:49:30Pro's up into fifth place.
00:49:32Renault's stopping quite early on in the race.
00:49:34There's the time clock.
00:49:36Eddie Cheever.
00:49:40Fuel on.
00:49:41Tyre's gone.
00:49:4210.77 seconds.
00:49:43Almost half a second quicker than Alain Prost's pit stop.
00:49:46But there is René Arnoux, the race leader.
00:49:49And there'll be...
00:49:50Stop action coming up after this short break.
00:49:53Stay tuned.
00:49:54ESPN Auto Racing 83 back at the Ă–sterreichische Ring.
00:50:01For quite an incredible 1983 Austrian Grand Prix.
00:50:05There is Alain Prost.
00:50:07Prost has now gone round in a 1 minute 33.961 second lap.
00:50:11The fastest lap so far of the race.
00:50:15He did that on lap 20.
00:50:17So Prost obviously setting his sights on victory here in Austria.
00:50:21It's still René Arnoux though leading.
00:50:24Alain Prost has made his pit stops.
00:50:26The top four cars have yet to come into the pits.
00:50:30The two Ferraris and the two Parmalat Brabham's.
00:50:34Still René Arnoux leads with the Ferrari.
00:50:37The pit stops now all important to victory.
00:50:39And look at the way the Ferrari bounces over the crests here.
00:50:43A beautiful circuit, the Ă–sterreichische Ring.
00:50:46A beautiful setting.
00:50:47Second and third now very close together.
00:50:49Nelson Piquet in second place.
00:50:51And third place Patrick Tombe.
00:50:52Leading still René Arnoux.
00:50:54Will Arnoux go into the pits?
00:50:55And yes he does.
00:50:56René Arnoux with the Ferrari is in the pits.
00:50:58New race leader then.
00:50:59The third race leader we've had so far in the Austrian Grand Prix here.
00:51:03Nelson Piquet with the Parmalat Brabham.
00:51:05BMW Turbo goes into the lead.
00:51:08On goes the time clock.
00:51:09René Arnoux in for a change of tyres.
00:51:11And fourth place man also come in.
00:51:13The Parmalat Brabham of Riccardo Patrese.
00:51:15Let's have a look at the Brabham boys.
00:51:17They are really experiencing these pit stops.
00:51:1911.24 seconds for the erstwhile race leader.
00:51:22René Arnoux goes back into the race.
00:51:25There is Riccardo Patrese.
00:51:27One of the rear wheels getting stuck on the Michelin shot car.
00:51:32They are away just a fraction over 11 seconds.
00:51:35Patrese back into the race.
00:51:36And another race on our hands in front of this vast crowd.
00:51:40Nelson Piquet leads but only just from the Ferrari of Patrick Tombe.
00:51:44These two have yet to make their pit stop.
00:51:47Nelson Piquet leading then with the Parmalat Brabham.
00:51:49A win he so desperately wants.
00:51:51Very nearly finished second in the German Grand Prix of course.
00:51:55Had that horrific looking fire in the latter stages of that race.
00:51:59And lost six valuable world championship points.
00:52:02And looking to the inside goes Patrick Tombe.
00:52:05Will the Ferrari take the lead?
00:52:06They are very very close.
00:52:08Almost could be covered by a handkerchief.
00:52:10Parmalat Brabham there a little bit sideways going out of the first chicane.
00:52:16Will he take advantage going into the Sebring corner.
00:52:20Up perhaps on the inside.
00:52:21They are side by side coming into the corner.
00:52:23And throw into the lead to a great cheer from the massive Italian crowd here.
00:52:28Who have come over from nearby Italy.
00:52:30Number 27 makes it four different leaders that we have had on.
00:52:35Four different lead changes should I say.
00:52:37Because Tombe of course led in the early stages up to lap 22.
00:52:41And there is smoke coming from the rear end of that car.
00:52:44Although Tombe seems to be pulling away a little bit.
00:52:47Seemed to be a, perhaps it was a heat haze we don't know what.
00:52:50There is a bit of smoke coming out of the Ferrari.
00:52:52Let's look at that lead change again.
00:52:56Tombe coming towards the Sebring corner on the inside.
00:52:59And out breaking Nelson Piquet.
00:53:01Who ran a little bit wide there.
00:53:03Piquet attacking once again.
00:53:05And once again we have a change of leadership for the Austrian Grand Prix.
00:53:09Well there hasn't been a peaceful moment for this commentator I can tell you.
00:53:13As Patrick Tombe comes up to lap.
00:53:15John Watson.
00:53:16And one of the Arcelor Alfa Romeos.
00:53:19And now Tombe is slowing.
00:53:21Tombe is slowing.
00:53:22Piquet has gone back into the lead.
00:53:24Tombe is slowing.
00:53:25He can't be coming out of the pit stop.
00:53:26And Ricardo Patrese is also slowing.
00:53:28Patrese has had his pit stop.
00:53:30Through goes one of the Renaults.
00:53:32It's probably Alain Prost.
00:53:34And the Parmalat problem is slowing.
00:53:37Patrick Tombe out of our sight.
00:53:39Also slowing.
00:53:40Coming into the pits very slowly indeed.
00:53:42Ricardo Patrese is out of the race.
00:53:45And there is Patrick Tombe.
00:53:47On goes the time clock.
00:53:48But I think that is a very vacant seat in the number 27 Ferrari.
00:53:54Patrick Tombe retiring in the second successive Grand Prix.
00:53:58Won't do his world championship chances any good.
00:54:01And Ferrari number 27 out of the race.
00:54:04And so Tombe retires in on lap 31.
00:54:08Ricardo Patrese retiring on lap 30.
00:54:11A great shame for a man who had such an excellent drive.
00:54:14There is Keki Rosberg.
00:54:16The current world champion.
00:54:17A very long and unusually long pit stop.
00:54:20For the Williams Grand Prix team.
00:54:22Rosberg quite far down the order.
00:54:24As in comes Nigel Mansell.
00:54:26Also retiring on lap 31.
00:54:28Andrea de Cesaris with the Alfa on goes the clock.
00:54:31For the fifth place man Nigel Mansell.
00:54:33That was the place he was in prior to his pit stop.
00:54:36New tyres have been put on.
00:54:38The Pirellis of course.
00:54:40Fuel going on.
00:54:41And someone stuck her with the front.
00:54:43Quite a slow pit stop.
00:54:45And also in on lap 31.
00:54:47Nelson Piquet the race leader.
00:54:49Now this is going to be very important this pit stop.
00:54:53Because everybody else.
00:54:55All the other leading ones have had their pit stops.
00:54:59And the team doing a fantastic job.
00:55:02Gordon Murray waves away.
00:55:0310.20 seconds.
00:55:04And René Arnau hasn't come round yet.
00:55:06Through comes Arnau I think.
00:55:08There's the Alfa of De Cesaris retiring.
00:55:11As we said earlier.
00:55:12And it looks as if yes he just got out back in the lead.
00:55:15That is absolutely incredible.
00:55:18Because Nelson Piquet who was in the lead.
00:55:20Came into the pit stop.
00:55:21Had that incredible pit stop of 10.2 seconds.
00:55:25And they're side by side.
00:55:27Remember that Piquet is on cold tyres.
00:55:29And René Arnau has already been into the pits.
00:55:31Is out of the pits.
00:55:32Is in second place.
00:55:33Right behind them.
00:55:34And would you believe closing on both of those.
00:55:36In third place is the Renault of Alain Prost.
00:55:40And who said Grand Prix racing wasn't the best form of motor racing.
00:55:44And it's unbelievable.
00:55:45Look at this.
00:55:46Arnau trying every which way to try and get past Nelson Piquet.
00:55:50Who's looking in his mirrors.
00:55:51And there is no way he's going to get past Nelson Piquet in this mood.
00:55:55The Parmalat Brabham driver there.
00:55:57With fresh tyres remember.
00:55:59With fresh Michelin tyres on that car.
00:56:01So they're still relatively cold in comparison to René Arnau's car.
00:56:06And this really is a titanic battle between the world championship contenders.
00:56:10Remember Nelson Piquet is in second place.
00:56:12Nine points behind Alain Prost who lies in third place.
00:56:15But really I think the first three cars are going to be closing up.
00:56:18Piquet pulling away a little bit there from René Arnau.
00:56:21But I don't think this means very much as we enter the second half of the race.
00:56:26The most crucial part of the race.
00:56:28Remember the 53 laps of the circuit.
00:56:31Already 34 laps run.
00:56:33Just 19 laps to go to the end of the Austrian Grand Prix.
00:56:36Nelson Piquet leads.
00:56:37René Arnau in second place.
00:56:39And Alain Prost, you can see they're coming into our picture, is in third place.
00:56:43Into the heli-lick curve they go.
00:56:48Through the chicane.
00:56:53Still Alain Prost's fastest lap.
00:56:55But around about 142 miles per hour on average speed here.
00:56:59Around the Ostreicher Schering.
00:57:01In comes the leading Cosworth runner, that of Nicky Lauda.
00:57:06Lauda in an excellent sixth place.
00:57:08The leading non-turbo car, normally aspirated car.
00:57:11But remember this is the last race that the great Austrian will drive in the McLaren International
00:57:16with a normally aspirated engine.
00:57:18Because as of the next Grand Prix, the Dutch Grand Prix in just two weeks time.
00:57:22A race incidentally that you can see on ESPN's Auto Racing 83.
00:57:26In just two weeks time, the McLaren will be powered by the tag Porsche turbo engine.
00:57:32Still leading then, Nelson Piquet.
00:57:34René Arnau closing up behind in second place.
00:57:36And what a race we've got on our hands.
00:57:38Heading towards the closing stages of the Austrian Grand Prix.
00:57:43Piquet, René Arnau, Alain Prost.
00:57:46Brabham, BMW, Leeds Ferrari, Leeds Renault.
00:57:50Three different types of turbos in the back of those three racing cars in the top three positions.
00:57:57Parmalat, Brabham versus Ferrari versus Renault.
00:58:01Nelson Piquet, the Brazilian driver going through the Yacht & Rint curve.
00:58:05And there is a difference, 0.8 and plus four.
00:58:08And that's to René Arnau, who knows going into lap 38.
00:58:12He wants to try and do something about that.
00:58:14And Arnau now closing up all the while on the race leader.
00:58:18Now in fourth place is Eddie Cheever.
00:58:21Into the Hellelich curve they go.
00:58:23And Nelson Piquet is a very sideways on that curve.
00:58:26Another little bit of opposite lock for the leader, Piquet.
00:58:29Could his tires be going off?
00:58:31The Parmalat, Brabham, they're leading.
00:58:33And Arnau very close behind him in second place.
00:58:35Could he make a challenge?
00:58:36Going into this corner once again.
00:58:38Looks to the inside.
00:58:39It could be side by side.
00:58:41And he goes through into the lead.
00:58:42And now Nelson Piquet is attacking once again.
00:58:44So René Arnau and we have yet another change of leadership.
00:58:48Arnau and going up side by side towards the Bosch curve
00:58:51is the Brabham and the René.
00:58:53They're absolutely side by side for second place.
00:58:56These are the two world championship contenders.
00:58:58First and second place in the world championship.
00:59:00Nelson Piquet doesn't want to give way.
00:59:02Nor does Alain Prost.
00:59:03And Prost goes into second place on lap 38.
00:59:06So it's all changed at the top here.
00:59:08Because René Arnau takes over the lead in second place as Alain Prost.
00:59:12And dropping away would seem in third place.
00:59:15Looks to be Nelson Piquet with the Paumalac Brabham.
00:59:19So yet another change of leadership here in Austria.
00:59:23And this race seesawing between these top three teams.
00:59:27So René Arnau leads.
00:59:30Prost second.
00:59:31The Paumalac Brabham of Nelson Piquet in third place.
00:59:35And the Austrian Grand Prix of 1983 could, believe you me,
00:59:39go to any of those top three drivers.
00:59:41And remember, Eddie Cheever is something like 15 to 16 seconds behind
00:59:46in fourth place.
00:59:47Manson in fifth place.
00:59:48And Nicky Lauder in sixth place.
00:59:54So into the closing stages of the race we go.
00:59:57René Arnau leads.
00:59:59And Alain Prost is closing up in second place.
01:00:01Alain Prost, of course, with the Michelin tires.
01:00:04The French rubber on that car.
01:00:06Coming up to fifth place man, Nigel Mansell.
01:00:09Through up on the inside goes the race leader René Arnau
01:00:13with the Ferrari Turbo.
01:00:15Arnau, who if he could win here,
01:00:17would hoist himself into second place in the world championship.
01:00:22And look at this battle for second place.
01:00:25A replay side by side.
01:00:27Remember on the right we have Nelson Piquet
01:00:30who is the main challenger to Alain Prost for the title.
01:00:34And they're absolutely side by side coming into the Bosch curve.
01:00:37And there into second place goes Alain Prost.
01:00:41A really daring manoeuvre.
01:00:43René Arnau, though, still leading the 1983 Austrian Grand Prix here
01:00:48at the Ă–sterreichische Ring in the mountains in the Steyr region of Austria.
01:00:55And so to recap then, Patrick Tambe is out of the race.
01:00:59The man who led early on led twice in fact.
01:01:02Another man out of the race quite recently is Roberto Guerrero.
01:01:06Also out of the race is De Cesarese Manfred Winkleloch,
01:01:10who retires on lap 34 with the ATS.
01:01:14Race leader, though, still René Arnau with Alain Prost.
01:01:17Closing in third place is Nelson Piquet.
01:01:19In fourth place is Eddie Cheever.
01:01:21Please join us for the closing stages of the 1983 Austrian Grand Prix
01:01:26right after this break.
01:01:28Welcome back to ESPN Auto Racing's 1983 coverage of the Austrian Grand Prix.
01:01:37Coming into the last ten laps of the race
01:01:40and René Arnau still leads, but only just,
01:01:43from the Renault of Alain Prost first and second very close together.
01:01:46And we really have a quite memorable race on our hands here.
01:01:50It's been thrilling right from the word go.
01:01:53In third place, dropping back all the while,
01:01:55is Nelson Piquet in the Parmalat problem.
01:01:59Either he's had a problem with the gears or the engines losing power,
01:02:02but just look at this battle for the lead.
01:02:05It's Ferrari versus Renault,
01:02:07Michelin versus Goodyear,
01:02:09Ferrari Turbo versus Renault Turbo.
01:02:12Two major car manufacturers here battling it out in the Austrian Grand Prix.
01:02:17It's René Arnau leading with the Ferrari.
01:02:20Alain Prost in second place.
01:02:22In third place is Nelson Piquet
01:02:24and Piquet has dropped quite far back in something like 15 seconds in third place.
01:02:31Fourth is Eddie Cheever closing all the time on Nelson Piquet for third place.
01:02:35Fifth is Nigel Mansell with the Lotus Renault.
01:02:38In sixth place is Nicky Lauda with the McLaren.
01:02:41But all eyes on this incredible battle for the lead between first and second.
01:02:47Prost then in second place, closing once again on the leader.
01:02:52And look at the way that Alain Prost close up on this long left-hander.
01:02:57Under braking, he seems to have far better braking ability.
01:03:01Just look at the way he closes right onto the gearbox of the Ferrari.
01:03:06First and second and the Austrian Grand Prix often producing some amazing results.
01:03:13Remember last year just one tenth of a second covering first and second when Elio De Angelis won with the normally aspirated Lotus from the Williams of Kecky-Rosberg.
01:03:24Six laps now to the chequered flag.
01:03:26They're on to their 47th lap.
01:03:2823 miles to the chequered flag.
01:03:30Will it be Ferrari?
01:03:31Will it be René Arnault?
01:03:33Or will it be the Renault of Alain Prost?
01:03:35In third place, the Parmalat Brabham of Nelson Piquet.
01:03:38But closing in on him is the teammate in the Renault team, Eddie Cheever, the American driver in fourth place.
01:03:44Arnault leads in in the Ferrari.
01:03:47I think this is about the right time in the race to mention to you, the audience, that there is no real love lost between the men lying first and second in the Austrian Grand Prix at this time.
01:03:58Because if you remember, René Arnault was the teammate to Alain Prost in last year's Renault Formula 1 team.
01:04:05But he was basically chucked out of the team because he wouldn't obey team orders.
01:04:09And if you also remember in the French Grand Prix of 1982, it was that orders given that Prost should have won that race.
01:04:16But René Arnault thought better of that and went on to win his own home Grand Prix, much to the annoyance of Alain Prost.
01:04:22So Prost said, well, he wouldn't sign for the Renault team for the 1983 season unless they got rid of René Arnault.
01:04:29And they got rid of René Arnault, but he went to Ferrari and he's now leading the race.
01:04:34So one could really justifiably say that these two men lying in first and second place in the Austrian Grand Prix are, to all intents and purposes, the best of enemies.
01:04:46So a real needle match between these two men who actually don't talk to each other at all.
01:04:52And if they both land up on the winner's rostrum, despite what they might do on the circuit, I don't think you're going to be seeing one congratulating the other.
01:05:00Going into lap 48 now, just five laps to the chequered flag.
01:05:05Just under 20 miles to run and it's going to be anybody's race, the race going right down to the chequered flag.
01:05:11It's René Arnault leading Alain Prost in second place, but Prost closing up all the time and looking for any which way to get by.
01:05:18René Arnault coming up once again towards the Sebring curve.
01:05:22And going to the outside and trying the outside line and goes through Alain Prost.
01:05:27Alain Prost takes the lead.
01:05:29Alain Prost, another lead change here, takes the lead.
01:05:33René Arnault, can he fight back in second place?
01:05:36So Alain Prost, who's already won three World Championship races in the 1983 season, goes through into the lead.
01:05:43On lap 48, René Arnault, though still in his wheel tracks.
01:05:47Can René Arnault fight back and get back the lead of the Austrian Grand Prix?
01:05:52This race that has provided us with such excellent television entertainment.
01:05:56Alain Prost leading the new race leader.
01:06:01Yet another lead change, the fourth different driver we've had leading the 1983 Austrian Grand Prix.
01:06:09Remember, we had Patrick Tambay, we've had René Arnault, we've had Nelson Piquet, and now we've got Alain Prost.
01:06:15But of course, it's the most important point to be in, going towards the chequered flag.
01:06:20That's a time when the drivers want to be in the lead, of course.
01:06:23Alain Prost leading them, René Arnault in second place. Can Arnault fight back?
01:06:27I don't think we want to forget that Nelson Piquet in third place is coming under a lot of pressure from Eddie Cheever in fourth place.
01:06:34Nigel Mansell still in fifth place, and there is Alain Prost.
01:06:39Coming up towards the chequered flag.
01:06:43There is Mauro Fogheri, the engineer for the Ferrari team.
01:06:48There's Piquet third, and there is Eddie Cheever closing at the rate of some three seconds a lap on Nelson Piquet.
01:06:56And we look at the man in sixth place, about to lap the man who is still running in 12th place.
01:07:04Stefan Johansson with the Spirit Honda.
01:07:07This would be the Honda's first finish in the Grand Prix season.
01:07:11Of course, they debuted in the British Grand Prix.
01:07:14Nicky Laudo with the McLaren Cosworth.
01:07:17And Alain Prost now pulling a little bit clear on René Arnault in second place.
01:07:25There is Arnault in second place.
01:07:28Coming up into the final stages of the Austrian Grand Prix.
01:07:31And going on, I believe, to the last lap.
01:07:34Yes, it's just 3.7 miles to the chequered flag.
01:07:39There's a one-lap sign.
01:07:41Alain Prost still leads on the far side of the circuit.
01:07:45Through the chicane he goes.
01:07:47Race leader Alain Prost.
01:07:49If he wins this race, he'll extend his lead in the World Championship to 14 points.
01:07:54But we've still got four very exciting races.
01:07:57Remember, we've got the Dutch Grand Prix.
01:07:59The Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
01:08:01Then we have the European Grand Prix at Brandtach in England.
01:08:05And finally, in mid-October, we go to South Africa for the Kyle Army.
01:08:10The South African Grand Prix.
01:08:12So Alain Prost, the man who is heading towards the chequered flag.
01:08:18He's got a seven-second lead now over René Arnault.
01:08:22Who must have perhaps lost a gear or something.
01:08:26Because he is flying.
01:08:27He's in no immediate danger from third place man Nelson Piquet.
01:08:31But Piquet is under a lot of pressure from Eddie Cheever,
01:08:34who could well take third place on the last lap of the Austrian Grand Prix.
01:08:39So maintaining this incredible excitement,
01:08:41we've had all the way through the 53 laps.
01:08:45The 195.7 miles of the 1983 Austrian Grand Prix.
01:08:51As heading towards the chequered flag goes Alain Prost with the Renault.
01:08:56And with less than 400 yards to run into the Yacht-Rank curve for the last time,
01:09:01Alain Prost heading towards his fourth victory.
01:09:03A victory here in the Austrian Grand Prix for Renault and for Michelin.
01:09:08Through they go.
01:09:10Prost wins.
01:09:11Fourth victory of the season.
01:09:12In second place is René Arnault.
01:09:14But all eyes on who will be in third place.
01:09:16It's Nelson Piquet with the Palmland brother.
01:09:18And Eddie Cheever going sideways.
01:09:19Coming out of the cup.
01:09:20Less than half a second behind in fourth place.
01:09:22Finishes Eddie Cheever with the second Renault.
01:09:25And Reddy Arnault in this race full of surprises.
01:09:28Stops his Ferrari not 200 yards from the finishing line.
01:09:33And so the result of the Austrian Grand Prix.
01:09:36A victory for Prost.
01:09:37Some seven seconds behind Arnault in second place.
01:09:40Third, some 27 seconds behind Piquet.
01:09:43Just half a second behind him in fourth place Cheever.
01:09:45Fifth Manson and sixth Nicky Lauder.
01:09:47We'll be right back after this short break.
01:09:51With more ESPN coverage of the Austrian Grand Prix.
01:09:54When John Visignano will talk to Eddie Cheever.
01:09:57And the race winner, Anna Frost.
01:10:05Eddie, a great charge there towards the end.
01:10:07Do you think if the race was any longer.
01:10:08You could have even improved your fourth place finish?
01:10:11I think Piquet had some problems.
01:10:14And I was catching him towards the end by about a second.
01:10:16A second, a second and a half per lap.
01:10:18How can you say if it would have been longer?
01:10:19Maybe they went two seconds long.
01:10:20Two laps long.
01:10:21He might have gone quicker.
01:10:22I don't know.
01:10:23But my car was running well at the end.
01:10:24I had a bit of problems in the beginning.
01:10:26I just couldn't get going.
01:10:28And I got caught up behind Manson.
01:10:31I lost four or five seconds behind Manson.
01:10:33That was that theoretically would have to put me in front of Piquet.
01:10:36But apart from that, the car went quite well.
01:10:38Your points have also moved Renault into the Constructors World Championship again.
01:10:43How do you think you're going to end up in that championship?
01:10:46Well, considering the bad luck I've had this year and I've lost around 25 points in placings that I have been in,
01:10:52I would say for us to be in that position now is a sign that if everything changes, we'll win it by 20 points.
01:10:58With ESPN Auto Racing 83, we have Alan Prost, who has just won the Austrian Grand Prix.
01:11:05Alain, the last ten laps you had two cars yet to pass.
01:11:09Did you think you were going to be able to get by both the Brabham and the Ferrari?
01:11:14It was very difficult for me because when you are behind a car on this kind of track,
01:11:18you have a big problem with the handling of your car.
01:11:21But when I passed Piquet, I was sure to win the race because only one car was not a problem for me in front of me.
01:11:28Were you just saving your tires until the last few laps, the Michelin tires?
01:11:32No, I was very confident about my tires and they were very, very good from the beginning until the end.
01:11:38Now, the first half of the race, the Ferrari seemed stronger than you.
01:11:41Could you pull them down the straightaways or were they going away from you?
01:11:45I think the big problem was the engine of the Ferrari was very, very quick, so it was very difficult to pass them in the straight.
01:11:52So I was waiting for the last moment to pass them because even if I passed, they were able to pass me again in the straight.
01:12:01You're looking at a piece of paper here that says that you're 14 points ahead in the World Championship.
01:12:07Are you more confident about being the 1983 Formula One World Champion now?
01:12:12Yeah, for sure I am more confident because it's 14 points, so it's a good average.
01:12:17But I think the championship is not finished anyway because we, Piquet, Arnoo and Bosch Ferrari are trying to pass me the last four races.
01:12:28It could be very difficult for the mentally, psychologically very difficult.
01:12:33What about on to Holland? That's always been a good track for you, the Dutch Grand Prix?
01:12:38Well, the Dutch Grand Prix is not bad. I won two years ago, but I think it could be a bit better for the two Ferraris.
01:12:44I think if I finish second or third, it's a good performance for me.
01:12:48And now Renault is leading the Constructors' Championship.
01:12:51Yes, that's a good point also and, you know, my problem is to win the World Championship for the drivers.
01:12:58And if I do that, it's a good, we don't care about the rest.
01:13:02So your car was perfect throughout the whole race, your Renault?
01:13:05It's never perfect, but I won, that's the most important.
01:13:08The 1983 Austrian Grand Prix brought to you by ESPN Auto Racing 83 has most certainly been one of the most thrilling races of the season.
01:13:22Four more races remain, of course, and the next coverage is the Dutch Grand Prix.
01:13:26But then we move on to Monza in Italy, Brandt's hatch is the European Grand Prix, and ESPN will be taking you to South Africa for the final race in the South African Grand Prix.
01:13:39This has been John Bisignano and Brian Kreisky.
01:13:42We've enjoyed bringing you this ESPN coverage of the Austrian Grand Prix.
01:13:46Thank you for joining us.
01:13:48Please watch your local listings for more ESPN Auto Racing 83 as we move from the highlands of Austria to the lowlands of the Dutch Grand Prix.