ON THIS DAY: COLLINS HANDS HIS CAR – AND THE CHAMPIONSHIP – TO FANGIO

Seventy years ago today, Peter Collins walked away from a world championship. The Ferrari driver was running third at the Italian Grand Prix, eight points behind teammate Juan Manuel Fangio in the standings, when Fangio's steering arm broke on lap 19. Luigi Musso refused to hand over his car. Collins pitted on lap 36, saw Fangio stranded, and gave him his own.

Had Collins stayed in, he almost certainly would have won—both Musso and Stirling Moss hit trouble late—and claimed the title. Instead, he and Fangio shared second place. Fangio took the championship by three points over Moss. Collins never got another shot; he was killed in a crash at the Nürburgring two years later. Fangio added a fifth title in 1957, but the 1956 crown came gift-wrapped from a rival who chose loyalty over glory.