1979 Italian Grand Prix

Infobox Grand Prix race report
Type = F1
Country = Italy
Grand Prix = Italian
Date = September 9
Year = 1979
Race_No = 13
Season_No = 15
Official name = L Gran Premio d'Italia
Location = Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza
Course = Permanent racing facility
Course_mi = 3,60
Course_km = 5.800
Distance_laps = 50
Distance_mi = 180.20
Distance_km = 290.000
Weather = Dry and sunny
Pole_Driver = Jean-Pierre Jabouille
Pole_Team = Renault
Pole_Time = 1:34.580
Pole_Country = France
Fast_Driver = Clay Regazzoni
Fast_Team = Williams-Ford
Fast_Time = 1:35.60
Fast_Country = Switzerland
Fast_L

First_Driver = Jody Scheckter
First_Country = South Africa
First_flag_suffix = 1928
First_Team = Ferrari
Second_Driver = Gilles Villeneuve
Second_Team = Ferrari
Second_Country = Canada
Third_Driver = Clay Regazzoni
Third_Team = Williams-Ford
Third_Country = Switzerland

The 1979 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on 9 September 1979 at Monza.

This race saw the return of Alfa Romeo to the World Championship, with a new 179 chassis for Bruno Giacomelli and the old 177 for Vittorio Brambilla; Alfa was back in action for the first time since the crash at Monza the previous season. Ensign decided to give Formula 2 champion Marc Surer a run in its car in place of Patrick Gaillard, while Hector Rebaque had his HR100 chassis ready for the first time.

As expected the Renaults, powered by turbo engines, were quick in practice and took the front row of the grid with Jean-Pierre Jabouille ahead of Rene Arnoux. Then came Jody Scheckter, Alan Jones, Gilles Villeneuve and Clay Regazzoni. The top 10 was completed by Jacques Laffite, Nelson Piquet, Niki Lauda and Mario Andretti.

Equally as expected the Renaults were slow off the start line and so Scheckter grabbed the lead from Arnoux. Behind then Villeneuve grabbed third while Laffite made a good start to get into fourth place. Jones dropped to the back of the field. On the second lap Arnoux was able to pass Scheckter to take the lead and for the next few laps the five front-runners were nose-to-tail, while Regazzoni ran in a lonely sixth position. That lasted until lap 13 when Arnoux's car began to misfire and he retired leaving Scheckter, Villeneuve, Laffite and Jabouille by themselves. Later in the race Jabouille dropped away with engine trouble and Laffite stopped with a similar problem and so third place went to Regazzoni with Lauda, Andretti and Jean-Pierre Jarier (Tyrrell) picking up the other points.

A one-two Ferrari finish clinched the drivers title for Scheckter in Ferrari's "home race".

Classification

Notes

* Lap Leaders: Jody Scheckter 39 laps (1, 13-50); René Arnoux 11 laps (2-12)
* This race was Jody Scheckter's tenth and last victory in F1

F1 race report
Name_of_race = Italian Grand Prix
Year_of_race = 1979
Previous_race_in_season = 1979 Dutch Grand Prix
Next_race_in_season = 1979 Canadian Grand Prix
Previous_year's_race = 1978 Italian Grand Prix
Next_year's_race = 1980 Italian Grand Prix
Previous_promotional_trophy_winner = 1978 British Grand Prix
Next_promotional_trophy_winner = 1980 Italian Grand Prix