Jochen Rindt

Born in Germany, Rindt's family moved to Austria when he was a boy. He started his racing career in Austria, and honed his skills throughout the European community, working through the lesser Formula ranks before entering Formula 1 in 1964. Rindt was always a promising racer and proved his worth by winning against established stars in the Formula 2 ranks, but could never break through to victory lane in Formula 1 until his fifth full season when he won his first race at Watkins Glen, N.Y. (1969 U.S. Grand Prix). He was one of the favorites for the 1970 championship and he didn't disappoint, winning five races, four straight at one point. He was in the lead for the world title and had promised his Finnish wife Nina that he would retire if he won the championship, however he was killed during practice for the Italian Grand Prix. Ironically, he had built up such a huge lead in the championship that nobody could accumulate enough points to pass him and Rindt was declared the world's first (and so far) posthumous World Champion.