Wolfgang von Trips was a ferocious competitor, but he had none of Phil Hill’s nuanced sense of speed and maneuvering, and he was oblivious to the most basic mechanics. His genius resided in his guts: he was willing to lay it all out at any time.
When von Trips pulled into the pits one day during practice runs at Sebring the Ferrari crew leaned in for consultation. “It runs fine unless I do this,” von Trips said. He leaned across the dashboard and flipped a switch on the far right side.
Phil Hill, who was listening in, smacked his forehead in disbelief. “That’s the fuel pump,” he said.
