Brazilian racing legend Emerson Fittipaldi has turned 70 years old today. He is a two-times Formula 1 World Champions and has also won the Indy 500 twice. To celebrate his birthday, we have taken a closer look at his two Championship winning cars.
The earliest of the two is the Lotus 72 Cosworth. Introduced in 1970, this highly influential racer competed at the frontline for the better part of six seasons. It was the first F1 car to feature radiators mounted laterally in side-pods. This is still the norm for racing cars to this very day. In 1970, Fittipaldi was a new signing to Team Lotus and scored his first victory with the Lotus 72. Sadly, that year lead driver Jochen Rindt fatally crashed a sister car but did become world champion, posthumously. In 1972 Fittipaldi came to fore with the 72 and took his first title. Our updated feature, includes histories of four different examples, illustrated by a 64-shot gallery, which includes pictures of Fittipaldi driving two different chassis in recent years.
In 1974, the Brazilian joined McLaren and promptly added a second title to his tally in the M23 Cosworth. Like the Lotus 72, this was a racing car with a career and also won a second title during its third season of racing. The second time exactly 40 years ago this year, with James Hunt behind the wheel, and after an epic battle with Ferrari's Niki Lauda. Ten of the cars so successfully raced by Fittipaldi and Hunt are pictured in this 165-shot gallery.

Enjoy the links:

1970 - 1975 Lotus 72 Cosworth - Images, Specifications and Information

1973 - 1977 McLaren M23 Cosworth - Images, Specifications and Information