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Look into the Eyes – Driver Retrospective Photo Gallery

The saying the eyes are the window to the soul is particularly apt when peering into the eyes of racing car drivers. Depending upon the events at hand, the eyes show a range of emotions, from focus and determination about the impending race to jubilation or disappointment about the results to exhaustion from a grueling day on the track.

From Formula One at Long Beach to Can-Am at Mid-Ohio, motorsports photographer Dennis Gray has fixed his lens upon the eyes of many of the greatest drivers of the last forty years. While Gray’s photos have been featured on Sports Car Digest before, they have been of race cars and not the expressions of the brave souls that piloted the cars.

Gray remarks, “The eyes of the driver is a target of my portraits. I try to get the intensity of the driver, the intensity of the moment. The strongest example is the George Follmer image with the exhaustion of John Morton a close second. Al Holbert is certainly looking into his lap to come and Milt Minter is another exhausted driver. Ed Leslie just looks disgusted and Carlos Reutemann needs better numbers from the notes.”

The following photo retrospective features images of race car drivers as they prepare to battle on the track, including Niki Lauda, John Watson, Emerson Fittipaldi, George Follmer, Rick Mears and many others.

Look into the Eyes – Driver Retrospective Photo Gallery (Photos and captions by Dennis Gray)

Rick Mears steps out of Champ Cars to pilot Dick Barbour's 935/77A Porsche to 4th place of the 1979 Sebring 12 Hours with co-drivers Barbour and Rolph Stommelen.
Rick Mears steps out of Champ Cars to pilot Dick Barbour’s 935/77A Porsche to 4th place of the 1979 Sebring 12 Hours with co-drivers Barbour and Rolph Stommelen.
James Hunt at the 1977 United States Grand Prix West in Long Beach. Hunt finished 7th in his McLaren M23.
James Hunt at the 1977 United States Grand Prix West in Long Beach. Hunt finished 7th in his McLaren M23.
Niki Lauda’s Ferrari 312 T2 sits in the pits just before the track opens for qualifying in the 1977 United States Grand Prix West at Long Beach. Lauda qualified first in front of Mario Andretti's Lotus and Jodi Scheckter's Wolf. He would finish 2nd to Andretti in the race.
Niki Lauda’s Ferrari 312 T2 sits in the pits just before the track opens for qualifying in the 1977 United States Grand Prix West at Long Beach. Lauda qualified first in front of Mario Andretti’s Lotus and Jodi Scheckter’s Wolf. He would finish 2nd to Andretti in the race.
Niki Lauda during Friday practice for the F1 U.S. Grand Prix West at Long Beach in 1977. Note how clean Niki's facemask is compared to qualifying above.
Niki Lauda during Friday practice for the F1 U.S. Grand Prix West at Long Beach in 1977. Note how clean Niki’s facemask is compared to qualifying above.
John Watson listens to Gordon Murray preceding the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix West at Long Beach in 1978. Watson’s Alfa Romeo-powered Brabham BT46 retired with gearbox issues.
John Watson listens to Gordon Murray preceding the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix West at Long Beach in 1978. Watson’s Alfa Romeo-powered Brabham BT46 retired with gearbox issues.

Look into the Eyes – Driver Retrospective Photo Gallery Page Two

 

Emerson Fittipaldi during the 1978 United States Grand Prix West at Long Beach. Fittipaldi finished 8th in his Fittipaldi FA5.
Emerson Fittipaldi during the 1978 United States Grand Prix West at Long Beach. Fittipaldi finished 8th in his Fittipaldi FA5.
Side photo of Emerson Fittipaldi before the 1978 United States Grand Prix West at Long Beach.
Side photo of Emerson Fittipaldi before the 1978 United States Grand Prix West at Long Beach.
Milt Minter after driving Vasek Polak's Porsche 917/10 to 4th place at the Laguna Seca Can-Am race in 1972.
Milt Minter after driving Vasek Polak’s Porsche 917/10 to 4th place at the Laguna Seca Can-Am race in 1972.
Ferrari driver Gilles Villeneuve waits out last minute adjustments to his Ferrari 312 T3 during the 1978 United States Grand Prix West at Long Beach. He qualified second to Reutemann and crashed - while leading - on lap 38 of 80.
Ferrari driver Gilles Villeneuve waits out last minute adjustments to his Ferrari 312 T3 during the 1978 United States Grand Prix West at Long Beach. He qualified second to Reutemann and crashed – while leading – on lap 38 of 80.
Ferrari driver Carlos Reutemann in the pits during qualifying for the 1978 United States Grand Prix West at Long Beach where he qualified first over teammate Jacques Villeneuve, both driving the Ferrari 312 T3. Reutemann won the race, finishing in front of Mario Andretti's Lotus 78 and Patrick Depailler's Tyrrell 008.
Ferrari driver Carlos Reutemann in the pits during qualifying for the 1978 United States Grand Prix West at Long Beach where he qualified first over teammate Jacques Villeneuve, both driving the Ferrari 312 T3. Reutemann won the race, finishing in front of Mario Andretti’s Lotus 78 and Patrick Depailler’s Tyrrell 008.

Look into the Eyes – Driver Retrospective Photo Gallery Page Three

 

Ronnie Peterson during the 1978 United States Grand Prix West at Long Beach. Ronnie finished 4th in his Lotus 79. Five months later, Peterson lost his life at the Italian Grand Prix held at Monza.
Ronnie Peterson during the 1978 United States Grand Prix West at Long Beach. Ronnie finished 4th in his Lotus 79. Five months later, Peterson lost his life at the Italian Grand Prix held at Monza.
Lotus head Colin Chapman at the 1977 United States Grand Prix West in Long Beach. Two exposures then a smile and Chapman was gone. No smile for the camera.
Lotus head Colin Chapman at the 1977 United States Grand Prix West in Long Beach. Two exposures then a smile and Chapman was gone. No smile for the camera.
Derek Bell and David Hobbs in the pits at Mid-Ohio during the 1979 IMSA race. They finished 9th overall in their BMW 320 Turbo.
Derek Bell and David Hobbs in the pits at Mid-Ohio during the 1979 IMSA race. They finished 9th overall in their BMW 320 Turbo.
Al Holbert rests in his Lola T332 before the 1978 Can-Am race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Holbert finished 10th.
Al Holbert rests in his Lola T332 before the 1978 Can-Am race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Holbert finished 10th.
Carlos Reutemann checks tire slips with Ferrari engineer Mauro Forghieri before the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix West at Long Beach in 1977. Reutemann wrecked his Ferrari 312 T2 on lap five.
Carlos Reutemann checks tire slips with Ferrari engineer Mauro Forghieri before the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix West at Long Beach in 1977. Reutemann wrecked his Ferrari 312 T2 on lap five.

Look into the Eyes – Driver Retrospective Photo Gallery Page Four

 

John Morton after finishing second with Tony Adamowicz to Ted Field and Danny ‘On the Gas’ Ongais' Porsche 935 at the 1979 Daytona 24 Hours. John and Tony were in Otto Zipper's ten year old Ferrari Daytona 365GTB4. This result was a wonderful present from John and the team to Otto Zipper who died the night before the race.
John Morton after finishing second with Tony Adamowicz to Ted Field and Danny ‘On the Gas’ Ongais’ Porsche 935 at the 1979 Daytona 24 Hours. John and Tony were in Otto Zipper’s ten year old Ferrari Daytona 365GTB4. This result was a wonderful present from John and the team to Otto Zipper who died the night before the race.
George Follmer gives me the ‘look’ just before going out to qualify for the Can-Am race at Laguna Seca in 1978.
George Follmer gives me the ‘look’ just before going out to qualify for the Can-Am race at Laguna Seca in 1978.
Ed Leslie after finishing second in the Penske Camaro Z/28 at the Laguna Seca Trans-Am race in 1969.
Ed Leslie after finishing second in the Penske Camaro Z/28 at the Laguna Seca Trans-Am race in 1969.
Bob Bondurant prepares to drive a Porsche 911 RSR at Laguna Seca.
Bob Bondurant prepares to drive a Porsche 911 RSR at Laguna Seca.

[Source: Dennis Gray]