| The 24 Hour LeMans is one of the largest and most | | | | others were burned to death. Figures do not agree |
| famous endurance sports car races in the world. It is | | | | on the number of people killed and injured but |
| also one of the oldest that is still operating. The idea | | | | seventy-seven to eighty three were reported killed |
| of an around the clock drive was conceived as a test | | | | and at least seventy-six injured. Macklin's car spun |
| of the reliability and endurance of man and machine | | | | around in the track and hit the pit killing a mechanic. |
| to maintain a continuous high speed for twenty-four | | | | Macklin was able to walk away from the crash. |
| hours over a challenging course. It is an annual event | | | | Fangio later expressed his gratitude for Levegh's |
| held near LeMans in France. While accidents are | | | | signal, crediting the signal with saving his life. It is |
| common at motor races, none have equalled the | | | | somewhat prophetic that Levegh had stated just |
| horrific incident that occurred at the 1955 event. Two | | | | prior to the race, "We have to get some sort of |
| factors are of primary importance in an auto race - | | | | signal system working; our cars are too fast." |
| the skill of the driver and the quality of the car. | | | | The organizers decided to continue the race, as they |
| The 1955 race would soon become a duel between | | | | were afraid that if they stopped it, the crowd of |
| the British Jaguar Type D and the Mercedes 300SLR. | | | | people departing from the stands would create |
| Germany had spent considerable time and effort in | | | | traffic that would interfere with the work of the |
| preparing its entry however the car had one | | | | ambulances and fire trucks. When word of the |
| weakness. It was equipped with drum brakes while | | | | accident reached Germany, the authorities withdrew |
| the British machine had disc brakes giving it a quick | | | | their other teams out of respect for Levegh. |
| braking advantage. After about two hours into the | | | | Hawthorn eventually won the competition. However, |
| competition, the British driver, Mike Hawthorn decided | | | | there were many who blamed his braking for initiating |
| to make a pit stop, slowing down and braking his car. | | | | the chain of events that caused the carnage. But the |
| Lance Macklin, driving in back of Hawthorn, slammed | | | | official investigation that took place following the |
| his brakes and pulled to the left. Pierre Levegh, who | | | | accident cleared him of blame and called it "a racing |
| was following Macklin, raised his arm to signal Juan | | | | incident.' |
| Fangio to slow down. Levegh's car, unable to brake | | | | Nevertheless, the incident had a profound effect on |
| quickly, then struck Macklin's and careened off the | | | | racing. Some European countries implemented bans |
| side, landing on an embankment. It then somersaulted | | | | on the sport. France spent over $600,000 to improve |
| along the embankment as the magnesium body | | | | the course. New regulations defining limitations on |
| ignited and flames spread everywhere. | | | | engine size, limiting the time a driver could be behind |
| As the car disintegrated, parts flew into the crowd. | | | | the wheel, and specifying the number of drivers on a |
| One row of spectators was decapitated by the | | | | team were all implemented prior to the 1956 race. |
| flying hood. Some were killed by flying parts and | | | | |