1975 Italian Grand Prix

Results from the 1975 Formula One Italian Grand Prix held at Monza on September 7, 1975.

Race summary

The Italian supporters were gathered in expectation of Ferrari gaining their first championship in 11 years-on home ground, with many Austrians travelling over the border to support Niki Lauda and were delighted when Ferrari filled most spaces on the front row.Tony Brise delighted his manager Graham Hill by gaining a 3rd-row spot.

On Sunday morning there was a cloudburst and for some time the future of the race was in jeopardy,but fortunately the rain dried up with about an hour to go before the start.Clay Regazzoni led from Lauda and Jody Scheckter.
Vittorio Brambilla's clutch burnt out on the first lap,whilst Bob Evans halted with a failed engine plug.There was a chaotic accident at the chicane-Scheckter had to take to the escape road as around him Jochen Mass hit the kerb,damaging his car's suspension.Ronnie Peterson collided with another car,jamming his throttle open.Mario Andretti and Rolf Stommelen retired with accident damage and Brise spun across the chicane.Harald Ertl soared over the top of Hans-Joachim Stuck's car,damaging the uprights.After 6 laps, Carlos Pace retired with a broken throttle link, soon joined by Hans-Joachim Stuck and Lella Lombardi. The Ferraris were circulating 1-2 with Clay Regazzoni leading majestically from Niki Lauda. On lap 14, Emerson Fittipaldi passed Carlos Reutemann for 3rd place. Despite the Ferraris being way ahead, Emerson would not give up the chase, carving down a gap of over ten seconds. With just 6 laps left, he managed to pass Lauda.

Meanwhille, Patrick Depailler had taken James Hunt for 5th only to spin off down the escape road. Hunt, Tom Pryce and Reutemann were duelling, Pryce taking the place when Hunt spun off on lap 27 - but ceding it to him after a further 10 laps. Harald Ertl was a lap down, but drove so well that Pryce couldn't overtake him.

Regazzoni took the flag, Lauda was third and champion and Ferrari won the championship for the first time since 1961 in front of their home crowd.

Classification

Notes

*Pole position: Niki Lauda - 1:32.24cite book | last = Lang | first = Mike | title = Grand Prix! Vol 3 | publisher = Haynes Publishing Group | date = 1983 | pages = p96 | isbn = 0-85429-380-9]
*Fastest lap: Clay Regazzoni - 1:33.1 on lap 47cite book | last = Lang | first = Mike | title = Grand Prix! Vol 3 | publisher = Haynes Publishing Group | date = 1983 | pages = p98 | isbn = 0-85429-380-9]

References

"Unless otherwise indicated, all race results are taken from cite web | title = The Official Formula 1 website | url = http://www.formula1.com/results/season/1975/470/ | accessdate = 2007-06-15

F1 race report
Name_of_race = Italian Grand Prix
Year_of_race = 1975
Previous_race_in_season = 1975 Austrian Grand Prix
Next_race_in_season = 1975 United States Grand Prix
Previous_year's_race = 1974 Italian Grand Prix
Next_year's_race = 1976 Italian Grand Prix