Emerson Fittipaldi won the 1972 world championship in a Lotus 72-Ford Cosworth DFV that the primary sponsor insisted on calling a John Player Special. Between themselves, Emmo and Colin Chapman (left, seen at Interlagos, Brazil, in 1973) called it a Lotus. Photo: Pete Lyons / www.petelyons.com

What’s in a …?

Emerson Fittipaldi has an impish sense of humor and, one day at Brands Hatch, he unloaded it on my poor pal Mike Doodson, live before a throng of thousands.

Nominally, “The Dood” was a journalist like me, and remains so today, but for a few seasons in the ’70s, he crossed over to the dark side, raking in pounds upon pounds of “pounds” in public relations.

No Subscription? You’re missing out

Any Text Here

Get Started