34th Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races

Derek Bell took on eight other racing heroes, and won, in an incident-packed Toyota Race of Legends at Laguna Seca during the Rolex Monterey Historic Automibile Races.

Bell, best known for his sportscar success started in sixth spot in the identical Toyota Scion tCs, but charged past the select group of Indy 500 winners and other legendary racers to take a calm and collected victory in the 8-lap charity event.

"From where I was the race was quite pleasant," Bell laughed afterward. "I haven't been up front in a race like that for donkey's years. I wish it was a bloody Le Mans race that I'd won like this - in a Toyota of course!

"But seriously, it's such an honor to be part of this Race of Legends. These guys are my heroes, and some of them were Indy winners before I started racing. It's been fantastic to drive with them and fantastic to spend time with them this weekend.

Well Bell had a quiet time in the lead, and Bobby Rahal was chasing him, it was full-on paint scraping behind, with a four car train of Bobby Unser, Vic Elford, Johnny Rutherford and charity auction winner Larry Bowman in the mix.

Passes were made often, trips for the gravel too, but on lap 5 it all took off at the Corkscrew, with three of the four crossing the gravel.

"As far as the banging went, I think it was Bobby Unser I hit the most," said Parnelli Jones. "I passed him, and then he nailed me after I got by him. Then he got by him, so I nailed him! But it was so much fun. Most recently I've been doing vintage racing with no banging, but once we started, I thought "Yep, I can do this!"

Vic Elford talks up the story of the biggest paint scrape of the day up at the Corkscrew. "That was very eventful! Bobby Unser and I were going at each other, and then Parnelli decided he'd join in, came whistling past nearly took me and Bobby out and sent the three of us onto the dirt. By the time I got back on to the track, Johnny Rutherford had arrived, and hit me straight in the side, and into the wall. That was that, but I am fine."

Emerson Fittipaldi ended up third, despite having started in last position. "I drew the last starting spot, but was able to escape in front of them before the crash! I was a little lucky, someone missed a gear of the left side of the field and I went past. I heard others had jumped the start. I tried to jump it - but everyone did! These guys are too experienced to get a jump on them...!

"This brought back fond memories," the two-time World Champion added. "It's a long time since I drove front-wheel drive, but by the end of the race I was going faster and faster. I really enjoyed myself, and I hope the fans did too. In Turn 3 there was a big grandstand, so I honked the horn each lap I went by, and every lap I got a bigger wave back from the crowd. It was great!"