Grand Prix Masters, Eliseo Salazar

GP Starts 37

Points Scored 3

Chilean driver Eliseo Salazar has had a colourful career to date. He raced in F1 for Williams in 1980 and continued in F1 with the March team in 1981. Midway through the ’81 season he joined Ensign and finished 6 th at the Dutch grand prix.

In 1982 Salazar drove for ATS and it was in this car that he had his infamous bust up with Nelson Piquet in Hockenheim. After inadvertently causing both drivers to spin out of the race, Piquet launched a physical attack on Salazar which was televised live to audiences worldwide.

Between 1986-1987 he competed in formula 3000 and in the late 1980’s he competed in Le Mans for TWR Jaguar and Spice Cosworth. In 1990 he was named sportsman of the year by Autosport magazine.

Salazar enjoyed success in 1994 driving in the IMSA World Sportscar Championship. He won 3 out of the 7 races. In 1996 he started on the front row of the grid at the Indianapolis 500 and finished 6 th overall.

During the late 90’ and the early 00’ Salazar raced predominately in the Indy Car Series. In 2000 and 2001 he finished in the top 5 of the Indycar Championship driving for A J Foyt and he is the first Latin American driver to compete in F1, Le Mans, Indy 500 and the 24hrs of Daytona.

Career Highlights:

1981 : March-Ford

1981 : Ensign-Ford, 1pt, 18th in Drivers Championship

1982 : ATS-Ford, 2pts, 22nd in Drivers Championship

1983 : RAM-Ford

Life beyond F1

1994 : won 3 races in a Ferrari 333 SP in IMSA, finishing second in the remaining four races.

1997 : Won at Las Vegas for the first career IRL IndyCar Series victory.

2000 : Finished third in Indianapolis 500.

2001 : Earned career-best finish of fourth in IRL IndyCar Series standings driving for A.J. Foyt Racing.

Earned four top-five and seven top-10 finishes driving the legendary No. 14 car for A.J. Foyt Racing. Started the year with three-consecutive top-five finishes.

2000 : Finished a career high fourth in IRL IndyCar Series points standings in first season with A.J. Foyt Racing.

Recorded IRL IndyCar Series career-best starts of second at Atlanta and Kentucky .

Started and finished on the front row of the Indianapolis 500, career best finish at Indianapolis .

1999 : Recorded top-five finishes at first Texas race and at Atlanta

Won Scott Brayton Driver’s Trophy at Indianapolis 500, awarded to driver who exemplifies the character and racing spirit of late IndyCar Series driver Scott Brayton.

Honoured for 25 years of achievement in motor sports during IndyCar Series race at Las Vegas .

Finished fifth overall in Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, driving Riley & Scott Ford MkIII with Henry Camferdam, Duncan Dayton, Scott Scubot.

1998 : Finished season best sixth at New Hampshire in final start of the year.

Fastest qualifying Riley & Scott driver at Daytona 24 hours.

1997 : Earned first career Indy-style victory at season-ending race at Las Vegas , leading final 49 laps in Team Scandia entry.

1996 : Started on front row of Indianapolis 500, finishing sixth. Ran as high as second.

Pole position in a Ferrari 333SP at Dallas , Texas .

1995 : Finished fourth, as a rookie, in the Indianapolis 500.

- Completed Rookie Orientation Program for the Indianapolis 500, started 24th for owner Dick Simon. Worked through field to run as high as third on Lap 189, before finishing fourth, second-best among rookies.

1994 : Won three of seven starts in IMSA World Sportscar Championship for Momo Ferrari team, winning consecutive races from pole at Lime Rock, Watkins Glen, Indianapolis Raceway Park .

1990 : Qualified in winning car for Silk Cut Jaguar at Le Mans 24 Hours.

Won Sportsman of the Year award given by British magazine Autosport.

1989 : Finished eighth in Le Mans 24 Hours with TWR Jaguar.

1988 : Competed in Le Mans 24 Hours with Spice Cosworth.

Won Japan 1000 Kilometers of Japan event in Sports Prototype World Championship.

1986 -1987 : Competed in Formula 3000

1984 : Won Chilean Rally Hill Climb Championship.