Phil Hill made its place in automotive history as the only native born American to win a Formula One Championship Hill was born on April 20, 1927 in Miami, Florida, however, was raised in Santa Monica, California.

His love for cars began at age nine when I first drove the car of a guest the block during a party at his house. Then when I was 12, helped his aunt bought him a Model T. entered the University of Southern California in 1945 to study business administration but left in 1947 to work on cars and occasionally to drive. In 1949 he was working for a Jaguar to grant that sent England as an apprentice at Jaguar for the maintenance study. When Hill returned from England, began his career.

However, their working years mechanic would help in the races, he knew exactly how far I could push the car and remain strong. And while his friends driving crashed and died around him, Phil never had a serious accident in all his years of driving.

In 1954 he finished second in the Pan American race, which resulted in an invitation to drive at Le Mans. Four years later, Phil, driving with his Belgian teammate, Olivier Gendebien, became the first American-born driver to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He did it on slippery asphalt through pouring rain behind wheel of a car that had a brake problem. However racing was strong resistance from Phil and he was going to win Le Mans twice. His first Formula One was the French Grand Prix 1958 was held in Reims, France. Phil was driving a Maserati.

When Phil won the Formula 1 in 1961, was competing against the German driver Wolfgang von Trips. Phil moved into the lead during the first round and Von Trips was trying to catch up, but collided with the Lotus of Jim Clark and out of control lost in the crowd and killed and fourteen spectators. Hill won the race and did not learn of the deaths until later. When a reporter asked Hill if it would stop running, Hill replied that he knew. But later, he told the reporter that everyone dies, sooner or later and it was great that von Trips was killed doing something he loved, without suffering and without notice. Phil was always nervous before the race and is seen chain smoking and polish your eye protection. Once behind the wheel however, was calm and completely in control. Phil parted with Ferrari next year, but remained in competition until 1966 when he retired. After to leave the race, wrote articles for various magazines of cars and vintage car collection. He also served as judge at the Concours d'Elegance Pebble Beach. Phil died on 28 August 2008, of complications from Parkinson's disease. He was respected by everyone associated with the competition as an excellent driver, who had competed and survived when the sport is much more dangerous than it is today.

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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Phil Hill, American Automobile Racer

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