José Carlos Pace(1944-1977)
- Transportation Department
One of Brazil's first great racing drivers, Pace was a contemporary and
friend of countryman and two-time world champion Emerson Fittipaldi.
Pace began racing in the 1960s and won three straight Brazilian
national championships before moving to Europe to compete in the
Formula 3 series. A versatile race driver, Pace competed in open-wheel
formulas, sportscars, and rallys before getting his break in the ranks
of the Formula 1 World Championship. Pace raced for future winning
owner Frank Williams, driving a March. He then moved to Surtees, and
drove well enough to attract the attention of Brabham, then one of the
top teams. "Moco" proved his worth, taking several podium results and
finally a win, at the 1975 Brazilian Grand Prix, his home race. For two
and a half seasons, Pace raced for Brabham, but he was killed in a
plane crash in Sao Paulo, just after the beginning of the 1977 season.
Pace was 32.
