 |
| Dindo Capello, a member of Audi's dream team of drivers, will turn 48 years old on Sunday. |
If endurance racing had a “dream team,” it would surely be the Audi
trio of Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish and Dindo Capello. Thirteen total
victories at the Le Mans 24 Hours, 15 total wins at the 12 Hours of
Sebring, and too many championships to count.
Capello may
be the least famous of the trio. The quiet, modest and soft-spoken
Italian does not attract the attention of his teammates. His English is
not quite as fluent, and his humility redirects much of the focus to the
other drivers. He is a gentle man. Underneath this calm exterior is a
competitive fire that still burns as he enters his 14th and most likely
his last race at Le Mans.
Capello lives just outside of
Turin, Italy. His passion is old cars, and he loves to drive the rolling
hills in his restored 1953 Chevy pickup. He also has a replica General
Lee with 500-plus hp under the hood. He is waiting for a new gearbox to
be delivered from the United States. Masters golf champion Bubba Watson
owns the original General Lee; Capello owns the fastest.
One
gets the impression he wants to end his career on a high note at Le
Mans. The dream team has not won this race since 2008, and one senses
they are overdue for another victory. They will certainly be the
sentimental favorites.
Sunday, June 17, is Capello’s 48th
birthday. If he wins, he will be the oldest winner in history at Le
Mans. A win might just be the perfect gift for the gentle giant of
sports-car racing.
0 komentar:
Speak up your mind
Tell us what you're thinking... !