Le Mans native Sébastien Bourdais, who recently triumphed with Ford in the LM GTE Pro class, took four straight Champ Car World Series titles for Newman/Haas between 2004 and 2007. The outfit was formed in 1983 when Carl Haas, a 1950s racing driver, teamed up with actor Paul Newman, who finished second at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1979.

1978 F1 world champion Mario Andretti, who joined the team at the outset, also claimed a second place in La Sarthe (1995). Driving for Newman Haas Racing in 1984, Andretti claimed a fourth CART (forerunner of the Champ Car single-seater series) title, after having earned his first three crowns alongside another American motorsport icon, Roger Penske.

When 1992 F1 champion Nigel Mansell retired from Formula One, he was lured to Newman/Haas Racing where he embarked on a successful career in CART, winning the US championship on his first attempt! Incidentally, the British driver raced with his two sons at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2010.

The new millennium saw a turn in the American team’s fortunes. It announced that, due to budget issues, it would not be taking part in the 2012 Indy Car Series championship, (the series formed after the merger between Champ Car and IRL). In its thirty-year run, Newman/Haas Racing took eight driver titles, seven of which were with a Lola, for which Carl Haas was the exclusive US importer.

Haas was never seen without his iconic cigar (unlit, for safety reasons!) and was a living legend across the pond. He passed away on 29 June after a brave fight against Alzheimer’s disease. American daily USA Today described him as one of the most influential people in the history of motorsport.

The ACO offers its sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.

Photo: Carl Haas (left) and Paul Newman either side of Mario Andretti, who posted this picture on his Twitter account.