From dream to reality: Jonesy gets it done in Montreal

On this day in 1980, Williams' Alan Jones clinched his sole F1 world championship with one race to spare by triumphing in a tumultuous Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.

Brabham's Nelson Piquet, who had arrived at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve as the championship leader, was dominating proceedings when his engine gave up the ghost on lap 23 of 70.

Ligier's Didier Pironi had finished the race first on the road but the Frenchman was handed a crushing 60-second penalty for a jump-start, which handed the win to Jonesy who preceded teammate Carlos Reutemann at the checked flag.

"It's what I've been dreaming of and working for," said the Aussie. "I still can't believe it...maybe when I'm back at the hotel, taking a shower, that's when it might sink in, and I'll start jumping up and down."

The race was marred by a seven-car collision at the first corner, which brought proceedings to a halt for nearly an hour. The most severe casualty was Jean-Pierre Jabouille, who suffered double leg fractures when he crashed his Renault into the wall.