Joe Honda photographed Jacky Ickx against a wall of fire as the Belgian escaped from his burning race car at the Jarama circuit, Spain 1970.
Joe Honda photographed Jacky Ickx against a wall of fire as the Belgian escaped from his burning race car at the Jarama circuit, Spain 1970.
Joe Honda
Crowds of excited fans watch the 1973 Brazilian Grand Prix -- the first world championship held in the country -- under the blazing sun.
Crowds of excited fans watch the 1973 Brazilian Grand Prix -- the first world championship held in the country -- under the blazing sun.
Joe Honda
An F1 car approaches a tunnel at the Monaco Grand Prix in 1968.
An F1 car approaches a tunnel at the Monaco Grand Prix in 1968.
Joe Honda
"I was drawn by the passion of European racers and by the way they lived for this sport," Honda told me. "I always knew there was more beyond Japan."
"I was drawn by the passion of European racers and by the way they lived for this sport," Honda told me. "I always knew there was more beyond Japan."
Joe Honda
Spectators sit on the walls next to the urban circuit at the Monaco Grand Prix, 1968.
Spectators sit on the walls next to the urban circuit at the Monaco Grand Prix, 1968.
Joe Honda
Inspired by Impressionism, Joe Honda liked to depict roaring cars juxtaposed with nature. Germany, 1969
Inspired by Impressionism, Joe Honda liked to depict roaring cars juxtaposed with nature. Germany, 1969
Joe Honda
Brazilian F1 racer Ayrton Senna drives for McLaren-Honda at the 1990 British Grand Prix.
Brazilian F1 racer Ayrton Senna drives for McLaren-Honda at the 1990 British Grand Prix.
Joe Honda
Joe Honda experimented with blur effects and nature to create images that reflected his love of impressionist painting. France, 1972.
Joe Honda experimented with blur effects and nature to create images that reflected his love of impressionist painting. France, 1972.
Joe Honda
Race-goers look out over a race track at the Australian Grand Prix, 1974.
Race-goers look out over a race track at the Australian Grand Prix, 1974.
Joe Honda
Austrian F1 driver Niki Lauda looks pensive before a race in 1972.
Austrian F1 driver Niki Lauda looks pensive before a race in 1972.
Joe Honda
The Paris-Dakar rally was an off-road endurance event that saw motorists on quads, cars, bikes and trucks cross dunes, mud, rocks and camel grass, with some sections seeing them cover up to 800 - 900 kilometers (500 to 560 miles) per day.
The Paris-Dakar rally was an off-road endurance event that saw motorists on quads, cars, bikes and trucks cross dunes, mud, rocks and camel grass, with some sections seeing them cover up to 800 - 900 kilometers (500 to 560 miles) per day.
Joe Honda
Drivers set up camp for the night during the Paris-Dakar Rally.
Drivers set up camp for the night during the Paris-Dakar Rally.
Joe Honda
Joe Honda walks beside his Toyota Corolla car outside of the Le Mans Grand Prix
Joe Honda walks beside his Toyota Corolla car outside of the Le Mans Grand Prix
Joe Honda
Joe Honda (center) with the president of the International Racing Press Association, Bernard Cahier (center left), and Jack Brabham, the winner of the French Grand Prix, 1967.
Joe Honda (center) with the president of the International Racing Press Association, Bernard Cahier (center left), and Jack Brabham, the winner of the French Grand Prix, 1967.
Joe Honda
Japanese photographer Joe Honda covered hundreds of international races over 45 years.
Japanese photographer Joe Honda covered hundreds of international races over 45 years.
Emiko Jozuka/CNN
Richard Lee Petty aka The King — pictured here at the Daytona 500 in 1970 — was a US driver who had 200 wins at the NASCAR competitions.
Richard Lee Petty aka The King — pictured here at the Daytona 500 in 1970 — was a US driver who had 200 wins at the NASCAR competitions.
Joe Honda
Cars used to compete at lined up in a row NASCAR, 1970.
Cars used to compete at lined up in a row NASCAR, 1970.
Joe Honda