This text was not translated, because it is originally in English
The Phil Hill Award—presented annually by the Road Racing Driver Drivers Club to a person who has rendered outstanding service to road racing—has been awarded to 4-time Indy 500 winner Rick Mears. At the clubs West Coast banquet, held prior to the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, Hills widow Alma and son Derek (photo) presented Mears with the prestigious award.

Mears accepted the trophy and attempted to slip away without making a speech, but the audience drew him back. I thought I was going to slide out, said a humble Mears. I just have to say thank you very much. I was honored to just be here to honor Roger [Penske] tonight, and to get this award is unbelievable. Its going to be tough for me live up to all that [Phil Hill represented]. I want to thank the RRDC and everything it does and everybody for coming out and supporting this event tonight.

Mears was born in Wichita, Kansas, and his family moved to Bakersfield, California, when he was 5. After racing stock cars as a hobby and riding motorcycles, he dominated Indy car racing in the 1980s. He won a total of 29 Indy car races for Team Penske, seven of which were on road courses, and won the pole position 40 times. He was an Indy 500 champion four times, tying two other drivers for the most wins at the Brickyard and was named Driver of the Decade by the Associated Press. After retiring in 1992, he continued to work for Roger Penske as a driving coach and adviser.

Said Derek Hill: I couldnt be more thrilled. This award is for a gentleman that I admired so much growing up, watching him in Indy cars and winning so many Indy 500s…he, a guy from Bakersfield, went over to England and won his first race at Brands Hatch in 1978. That was a nice touch given that my dad won his last race in Brands Hatch 11 years earlier. This is for you, Rick Mears.

Bobby Rahal, emcee for the evening, added, The great thing about Rick when I raced against him is he was tough but he was always clean, he was always fair, and you could trust him. He was a great champion.

Those same words could have been used to describe Phil Hill himself, who passed away in 2008 and was a vital part of the Road & Track family for decades.