JUNE 21, 1999
Bernie's heart surgery
FORMULA 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone underwent a heart bypass operation last week at the London Chest Hospital in Victoria Park, Hackney. The operation was described as "routine" by consultant cardiac surgeon John Wright.
Wright said that Ecclestone will "be back in the fast lane in a couple of weeks". It was not widely known that Bernie had been having heart problems but this may help to explain his non-appearance at all the non-European races for the last nine months. It is worth noting that former FIA President Jean-Marie Balestre underwent the same operation in 1986 - at the age of 65 - and is still going strong 13 years later.