A Peterson Problem

Sir,

I am sure I cannot be the only one to be getting tired of the incomprehensible fuss about Ronnie Peterson at Monza. Does nobody remember any more that he did let Fittipaldi by in Austria, thereby generously jeopardising his own chances of winning the race? It seems to me that he showed extremely sound judgement, backing off in Austria where Emerson still had a small but realistic chance of winning the Championship but not in Italy where these chances had become purely theoretical. Team spirit is all very well but should it be pursued at the cost of common sense, fairness to the individual competitor—and, incidentally, to the spectators who presumably pay to see a genuine race, not a procession agreed on beforehand within the team?

Cambridge. MRS. S. GETHIN [This is but one of several letters siding with Peterson.—Ed.]