Luigi Chinetti was an Italian-born racecar driver, who emigrated to the United States during World War II.
22 Facts About Luigi Chinetti
2.
Luigi Chinetti drove in 12 consecutive 24 Hours of Le Mans races, taking three outright wins there and taking two more at the Spa 24 Hours race.
3.
Luigi Chinetti was born in Jerago con Orago, a little north of Milan.
4.
Luigi Chinetti began to race sports cars as a driver, earning a reputation in endurance events, the 24 Hours of Le Mans in particular.
5.
Luigi Chinetti entered a car in the 1954 race, but as sponsor rather than driver.
6.
Luigi Chinetti traveled as part of the Lucy O'Reilly Schell Ecurie Bleue team, that included driver Rene Dreyfus, for an appearance at the 1940 Indianapolis 500.
7.
Luigi Chinetti applied for American citizenship in 1947, and took the oath of allegiance on 6 March 1950.
8.
Luigi Chinetti first went to Paris, only to find that his property had been lost in the war.
9.
Some accounts of this evening describe a highly dramatic meeting between an uncertain and somewhat despondent Ferrari considering abandoning the making of sports cars, and a confident and enthusiastic Luigi Chinetti countering that Ferrari must stop making machine tools and resume building racing cars; that the race cars would be paid for by building road cars that Luigi Chinetti would sell in America; and placing an order then and there for 25 cars.
10.
In either case, it seems that Luigi Chinetti left the meeting with an agreement to be Ferrari's agent in France and the United States.
11.
One driver that Luigi Chinetti tried to promote was journalist Denise McCluggage.
12.
Luigi Chinetti was able to sponsor Yvonne Simon in the 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans partnered with Michel Kasse, and fielded the all-female team of Simon and Betty Haig at the 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans.
13.
Luigi Chinetti remained in Greenwich, Connecticut after his retirement and died on 17 August 1994 at the age of ninety-three.
14.
Luigi Chinetti's reputation continued to draw clients from across the country throughout his career.
15.
The first Ferrari sold by Luigi Chinetti to the US was a Tipo 166 MM Touring Barchetta, chassis 0002 M, sold to Tommy Lee in Los Angeles in the first three months of 1949.
16.
In 1952 Luigi Chinetti sold 1951 Ferrari 212 Export Barchetta 0078E to Phil Hill near the beginning of the future World Champion's career.
17.
In 1975 Luigi Chinetti ordered three more Michelotti conversions built to road car specifications.
18.
Luigi Chinetti teamed up with Philippe Etancelin in 1934 to win his second 24 hours of Le Mans.
19.
The Ferrari 166M in which Luigi Chinetti won was turned over to Baron Selsdon of Scotland for twenty minutes during the race, making Thomson the official co-driver although Luigi Chinetti had driven twenty-three of the hours of the race.
20.
Luigi Chinetti made three appearances at the Spa 24 Hours, taking outright wins in 1933 in an Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 partnered with Phillipe Varent, and again in 1949 in a Ferrari Tipo 166 MM driving for Ferrari with Jean Lucas.
21.
Luigi Chinetti posted wins at the Paris 12 Hours; once in 1948 in a Ferrari Tipo 166 SC, and again in 1950 in a Tipo 166 MM teamed with Jean Lucas.
22.
Luigi Chinetti appeared in the Carrera Panamericana three more times in subsequent years, with the highest finish being a third place in 1952.