Phil Hill, the First American Formula One Champion has Died

Legendary race car driver Phil Hill, who had been suffering from Parkinson's disease, and a degenerative neurological disorder, died last week at the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula in California, at the age of 81.

Phil Hill made the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1956 as Sports Car Driver of the Year. In 1961, Hill became the first American to win the Formula One World Drivers Championship. For 17 years his record was unchallenged, and today is shared with only one other American, Mario Andretti. Technically speaking, that made Hill the only American born Formula One champion.

Other races that Phil Hill claimed victory in his 20 year driving career was the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times, the 12 hours of Sebring three times, the Argentine 1000 Km three times, the Grand Prix of Italy twice and the Belgian Grand Prix. His final victory was the BOAC 500 at Brands Hatch in England in 1967.

Hill went on to work as a television commentator for ABC's Wide World of Sports and as a contributing editor for Road & Track magazine. He was making an appearance at the historic Laguna Seca event in California when he had taken ill

Phil Hill is survived by his wife, Alma, three children and four grandchildren. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

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