Monterey, CA (My Sportsbook) - Phil Hill, the only American-born driver to win the Formula One world title, died Thursday at a Monterey, California hospital of complications from Parkinson's disease. He was 81.

Hill captured the 1961 F1 championship by a single point over his Ferrari teammate, Wolfgang Von Trips, who was killed in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza that year. He recorded three victories in 49 grand prix starts. Hill also won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring three times each.

"I, as well as all employees of Ferrari, are extremely saddened by the news of the passing of Phil Hill, a man and a champion who gave so much to Ferrari and who has always greatly represented the company's values inside and outside the racing track," Luca di Montezemolo, president of Ferrari, said in a written statement.

Hill was born in Miami on April 20, 1927 and raised in Santa Monica, CA. He studied business administration at the University of Southern California for two years before his racing career began first as a mechanic and then as a driver. In 1955, he joined Ferrari's driver roster at Le Mans. When Ferrari drivers Luigi Musso and Peter Collins were killed in separate accidents in 1958, the manufacturer promoted Hill to an F1 ride.

After his retirement from racing in 1967, Hill went on to serve as a commentator for ABC's Wide World of Sports and a contributing editor for Road & Track magazine. He also co-owned a car restoration business and collected over a dozen antique automobiles.

Hill was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1991.

Mario Andretti became the second American driver to win an F1 world title in 1978. Andretti was born in Italy.