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SPORTS Tuesday 21 May 2019
F1 champion and aviation entrepreneur Niki Lauda dies at 70

By GEIR MOULSON was nothing left," he add-
Associated Press ed. "I was really lucky in a
BERLIN (AP) — Three-time way that I didn't do any
Formula One world cham- (other) damage to myself.
pion Niki Lauda, who won So the real question was
two of his titles after a hor- then will I be able to drive
rific crash that left him with again, because certainly
serious burns and went on it was not easy to come
to become a prominent back after a race like that."
figure in the aviation indus- Lauda made his come-
try, has died. He was 70. back just six weeks after
The Austria Press Agen- the crash, finishing fourth
cy reported that Lauda's at Monza after overcoming
family said in a statement his initial fears.
he "passed away peace- He recalled "shaking with
fully" on Monday. Walter fear" as he changed into
Klepetko, a doctor who second gear on the first
performed a lung trans- day of practice and think-
plant on Lauda last year, ing, "I can't drive."
said Tuesday: "Niki Lauda The next day, Lauda said
has died. I have to confirm he "started very slowly try-
that." ing to get all the feelings
Lauda won the F1 drivers' back, especially the confi-
championship in 1975 and In this July 7, 2018, file photo, former Formula One World Champion Niki Lauda of Austria walks dence that I'm capable of
1977 with Ferrari and again in the paddock before the third free practice at the Silverstone racetrack, Silverstone, England. driving these cars again."
in 1984 with McLaren. Associated Press The result, he said, boosted
In 1976, he was badly his confidence and after
burned when he crashed turing industry, but instead winning a Grand Prix for the came a personal trade- four or five races "I had ba-
during the German Grand concentrated his business first time that year in Spain mark. sically overcome the prob-
Prix but made an astonish- talents and determination and his first drivers' title with "The main damage, I think lem of having an accident
ingly fast return to racing on his dreams of becoming five victories the following to myself, was lung dam- and everything went back
just six weeks later. a racing driver. season. age from inhaling all the to normal."
Lauda remained closely Lauda financed his early Facing tough competi- flames and fumes while He won his second cham-
involved with the Formula career with the help of a tion from McLaren's James I was sitting in the car for pionship in 1977 before
One circuit after retiring as string of loans, working his Hunt, he appeared on about 50 seconds," he re- switching to Brabham and
a driver in 1985, and in re- way through the ranks of course to defend his title called nearly a decade then retiring in 1979 to con-
cent years served as the Formula 3 and Formula 2. in 1976 when he crashed later. "It was something like centrate on setting up his
non-executive chairman of He made his Formula 1 de- at the Nuerburgring dur- 800 degrees." airline, Lauda Air, declaring
the Mercedes team. but for the March team at ing the German Grand Prix. Lauda fell into a coma for a that he "didn't want to drive
Born on Feb. 22, 1949 into the 1971 Austrian Grand Several drivers stopped to time. He said that "for three around in circles any more."
a wealthy Vienna industrial Prix and picked up his first help pull him from the burn- or four days it was touch Lauda came out of retire-
family, Nikolaus Andreas points in 1973 with a fifth- ing car, but the accident and go." ment in 1982 after a big-
Lauda was expected to place finish for BRM in Bel- would scar him for life. The "Then my lungs recovered money offer from McLaren,
follow his father's footsteps gium. baseball cap Lauda almost and I got my skin grafts reportedly about $3 million
into the paper-manufac- Lauda joined Ferrari in 1974, always wore in public be- done, then basically there a year.q

WOMEN HOCKEY future of women's sports," son with the Metropolitan
Continued from Page 17 Canadian national team Riveters. The NWHL previ-
The new union's members goalie Shannon Szabados ously announced players
include players from Eu- said. "We know we can also will receive a 50 per-
rope along with the U.S. make this work, and we cent cut of revenue and 15
and Canada. want the chance to try." percent apparel sales with
"We might play for different Liz Knox, former co-chair their names this upcoming
teams, and come from dif- of the CWHL Players Asso- season.
ferent countries, but we're ciation, said the players are "I'm coming back for a fifth
united in our goals," said uncertain about what hap- season because I am pas-
goaltender Noora Räty, pens next. "But we move sionate about continuing
who has won two Olym- forward united, dedicated, my playing career and to
pic bronze medals with and hopeful for our future advance the game and
Finland. "This is about pro- and the future of this game our league," Packer said.
tecting ourselves, protect- we love so much," Knox "I'm confident in the direc-
ing our future, and making said. The NWHL stresses that tion our sport is headed,
hockey a better place for not everyone is boycotting and in the plan the NWHL
women and girls." the lone remaining wom- has laid out for a strong
The PWHPA made it clear en's professional league. season and positive experi-
the union wants a league The league announced a ence for players and fans.
that provides health insur- In this Jan. 25, 2019, file photo, U.S. Women's National Team's couple of player deals, no- It's important to build off
Kendall Coyne Schofield skates during the Skills Competition,
ance, money and infra- part of the NHL All-Star weekend, in San Jose, Calif. tably one featuring Madi- the momentum created
structure along with sup- Associated Press son Packer. Packer, who is by the league's success last
port for training programs. tied for most goals in NWHL season, and my body feels
"We are prepared to stop is crushing to even think how important a sustain- history, signed for $12,000 good enough to continue
playing for a year, which about, because we know able league will be to the to play the upcoming sea- playing."q