Editing Monza Circuit (section)

==History==

=== Early history ===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 102-01319, Italien, Monza, Autorennen.jpg|thumb|The starting grid of the "[[Coppa Fiera di Milano|1st Cup Fiera di Milano]]" race held in 1925.|alt=|left]]
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 102-01321, Italien, Monza, Autorennen.jpg|thumb|A race in 1925 with cars racing across the bridge.|alt=|left]]
[[File:Monza banking 2003.JPG|thumb|The Pista di Alta Velocità banking, 2003.|alt=|left]]

The first track was built from May to July 1922 by 3,500 workers, financed by the Milan Automobile Club<ref name=MonzaNet1922/> – which created the ''Società Incremento Automobilismo e Sport'' (SIAS) (English: ''Motoring and Sport Encouragement Company'') to run the track.<ref name=F1db/> The initial form was a {{convert|3.4|km2|2}} site with {{cvt|10.000|km|mi|abbr=on}} of [[macadam]]ised road – comprising a {{cvt|4.490|km|mi|abbr=on}} loop track, and a {{cvt|5.500|km|mi|abbr=on}} road track.{{clarify|reason=What is a "loop track" in contrast to a "road track"? Especially given both are stated to be a part of "10km of macadamised road".|date=November 2020}}<ref name=MonzaNet1922/><ref name=F1db/> The track was officially opened on 3 September 1922, with the maiden race the second Italian Grand Prix held on 10 September 1922. Monza's close proximity to Milan, the center of Italy's economy, the largest metropolitan area in Italy and one of Europe's leading major cities made Monza a particularly convenient location for racing and other events.<ref name=F1db>{{cite web |title=Autodromo Nazionale Monza – History |url=http://www.f1db.com/f1/page/Autodromo_Nazionale_di_Monza |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091002042349/http://www.f1db.com/f1/page/Autodromo_Nazionale_di_Monza |work=The Formula One DataBase |publisher=F1db.com |date=6 April 2005 |archive-date=2 October 2009 |access-date=17 September 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1928, the most serious Italian racing accident to date<ref name=MonzaNet1922/><ref name=Clarin/> ended in the death of driver [[Emilio Materassi]] and 27 spectators at [[1928 Italian Grand Prix|that year's Italian Grand Prix]].<ref name=MonzaNet1922/><ref name=Clarin/> The accident led to further Grand Prix races' confinement to the high-speed loop until 1932.<ref name=MonzaNet1929>{{cite web|title=1929–1939: In consequence of the Materassi's accident, races are run on the alternative tracks|url=http://www.monzanet.it/eng/storia_1929_39.aspx|work=Autodromo Nazionale Monza|publisher=MonzaNet.it|year=2007|access-date=17 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415212757/http://www.monzanet.it/eng/storia_1929_39.aspx|archive-date=15 April 2008}}</ref> For these reasons the Italian Grand Prix was not held again until 1931; in the meantime the 1930 [[Monza Grand Prix]] was held on the high speed ring only, while in 1930 [[Vincenzo Florio]] introduced the Florio Circuit. The [[1933 Italian Grand Prix]] was held on the original complete layout but it was marred by the deaths of three drivers ([[Giuseppe Campari]], [[Baconin Borzacchini]] and [[Stanisław Czaykowski]]) in the supporting Monza Grand Prix held on the same day - which became known as the "Black Day of Monza" - over the shorter oval circuit<ref name=F1db/><ref name=Monza33>{{cite web|url=http://forix.autosport.com/8w/monza33.html|title=8W – When? – 1933 Monza GP, ''"Black Sunday"''|publisher=Forix.autosport.com|date=May 2001|access-date=17 September 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Etzrodt|first=Hans|title=The Black Day of Monza. Campari, Borzacchini and Czaykowski crashed fatally.|url=http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp3314.htm#64|website=The Golden Era of Grand Prix Racing|access-date=3 September 2020|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303201659/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp3314.htm#64|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the Grand Prix layout was changed: in 1934 a short circuit with two lanes of the straight line joined by a hairpin, ''Curva Sud'' of the banking (with a double chicane) driven in the opposite direction than usual, the "Florio link" and the ''Curva Sud'' (with a small chicane). This configuration was considered too slow and in 1935 Florio Circuit was used again, this time with four temporary chicanes and another one permanent (along the ''Curva Sud'' of the banking). In 1938 only the last one was used.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t3.htm|title=TRACKS - ITALY|website=kolumbus.fi|access-date=29 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316184531/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t3.htm|archive-date=16 March 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

There was major rebuilding in 1938–39, constructing new stands and entrances, resurfacing the track, removing the high speed ring and adding two new bends on the southern part of the circuit.<ref name=F1db/><ref name=MonzaNet1929/> The resulting layout gave a Grand Prix lap of {{convert|6.300|km|mi|abbr=on}}, in use until 1954.<ref name=MonzaNet1940>{{cite web|title=1940–1954: After the war interruption, the activity starts again in 1948|url=http://www.monzanet.it/eng/storia_1940_54.aspx|work=Autodromo Nazionale Monza|publisher=MonzaNet.it|year=2007|access-date=17 September 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080415212801/http://www.monzanet.it/eng/storia_1940_54.aspx| archive-date = 15 April 2008}}</ref> The outbreak of World War II meant racing at the track was suspended until 1948<ref name=MonzaNet1940/> and parts of the circuit degraded due to the lack of maintenance and military use.<ref name=F1.comHistory/> Monza was renovated over a period of two months at the beginning of 1948<ref name=F1db/> and a Grand Prix was held on 17 October 1948.<ref name=MonzaNet1940/>

===High speed oval===
In 1954, work began to entirely revamp the circuit, resulting in a {{cvt|5.750|km|mi|abbr=on}} course, and a new {{cvt|4.250|km|mi|abbr=on}} high-speed oval with banked ''sopraelevata'' curves (the southern one was moved slightly north).<ref name=F1.comHistory/><ref name=MonzaNet1955>{{cite web |title=1955–1971: Construction of the high speed track and other important works |url=http://www.monzanet.it/eng/storia_1955_71.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415212806/http://www.monzanet.it/eng/storia_1955_71.aspx |publisher=MonzaNet.it |work=Autodromo Nazionale Monza |year=2007 |archive-date=15 April 2008 |access-date=17 September 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The two circuits could be combined to re-create the former {{convert|10|km|3}}<ref name=F1.comHistory/> long circuit, with cars running parallel on the main straight. The first Lesmo curve was modified to be made faster, and the track infrastructure and facilities were also updated and improved to better accommodate the teams and spectators.<ref name=F1db/><ref name=MonzaNet1955/>

The [[Automobile Club of Italy]] held {{cvt|500|mi|km|abbr=on}} [[Race of Two Worlds]] exhibition competitions, intended to pit [[United States Auto Club]] [[American Championship Car Racing|IndyCar]]s against European Formula One and sports cars.<ref name=F1.comHistory/><ref name=MonzaNet1955/> The races were held on the oval at the end of June in 1957 and 1958,<ref name=ChampCarStats>{{cite web |title=Autodromo Nazionale Monza |url=http://www.champcarstats.com/tracks/monza.htm |publisher=ChampCarStats.com |year=2009 |access-date=17 September 2009}}</ref> with three 63 lap<ref name=ChampCarStats58H1>{{cite web |title=1958 500 Miglia di Monza Heat 1 |url=http://www.champcarstats.com/races/1958nc1.htm |publisher=ChampCarStats.com |year=2009 |access-date=17 September 2009}}</ref> {{convert|267.67|km|2}} heat races each year, races which colloquially became known as the ''Monzanapolis'' series.<ref name=ChampCarStats/><ref name="About Milan">{{cite web |title=History of Monza GP |url=http://www.aboutmilan.com/history-of-monza-track.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101012182849/http://www.aboutmilan.com/history-of-monza-track.html |publisher=About Milan |archive-date=12 October 2010 |access-date=8 October 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> Concerns were raised among the European drivers that flat-out racing on the banking would be too dangerous,<ref name="About Milan"/> so ultimately only [[Ecurie Ecosse]] and [[Maserati]] represented European racing at the first running.<ref name=ChampCarStats57H1>{{cite web |title=1957 500 Miglia di Monza Heat 1 |url=http://www.champcarstats.com/races/1957nc1.htm |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091013101855/http://www.champcarstats.com/races/1957nc1.htm |publisher=ChampCarStats.com |year=2009 |archive-date= 13 October 2009 |access-date=17 September 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> The American teams had brought special [[Firestone Tire and Rubber Company|Firestone]] tyres with them, reinforced to withstand high-speed running on the bumpy Monza surface, but the Maseratis' steering was badly affected by the larger-than-usual tyre size, leading to the [[Modena]]-based team withdrawal.<ref name=ChampCarStats57H1/>

Ecurie Ecosse's three [[Jaguar D-type]] sports cars used their [[24 Hours of Le Mans|Le Mans]]-specification tyres with no ill-effects, but since they raced at less than their practice speeds to conserve their tyres, they were completely outpaced. Two heats in 1957 were won by [[Jimmy Bryan]] in his [[Kuzma (constructor)|Kuzma]]-[[Offenhauser]] ''Dean Van Lines Special'',<ref name=ChampCarStats57H1/><ref name="ChampCarStats57H2">{{cite web|title=500 Miglia di Monza Heat 2|url=http://www.champcarstats.com/races/1957nc2.htm|publisher=ChampCarStats.com|access-date=23 November 2010}}</ref> and the last by [[Troy Ruttman]] in the [[A. J. Watson|Watson]]-[[Offenhauser]] ''John Zink Special''.<ref name=ChampCarStats57H3>{{cite web|title=500 Miglia di Monza Heat 3|url=http://www.champcarstats.com/races/1958nc3.htm|publisher=ChampCarStats.com|access-date=23 November 2010}}</ref> In 1958 [[Jaguar Cars|Jaguar]], [[Ferrari]] and Maserati teams appeared alongside the Indy roadsters,<ref name=MonzaNet1955/><ref name=ChampCarStats58H2>{{cite web|url=http://www.champcarstats.com/races/1958nc2.htm|title=1958 500 Miglia di Monza Heat 2|publisher=ChampCarStats.com|year=2009|access-date=17 September 2009}}</ref> but once again the American cars dominated the event and [[Jim Rathmann (race car driver)|Jim Rathmann]] won the three races in a [[A. J. Watson|Watson]]-[[Offenhauser]] car.<ref name=ChampCarStats/>

Formula One used the {{cvt|10.000|km|mi|abbr=on}} high speed track in the [[1955 Italian Grand Prix|1955]], [[1956 Italian Grand Prix|1956]], [[1960 Italian Grand Prix|1960]] and [[1961 Italian Grand Prix|1961]] Grands Prix.<ref name=F1.comHistory/><ref name=MonzaNet1955/> [[Stirling Moss]] and [[Phil Hill]] both won twice in this period, with Hill's win at Monza making him the first American to win a Formula One race. The combined circuit was not used for 3 years because during the 1956 event the Ferraris and Maseratis were suffering mechanically on the banking, and the combined circuit was used again in 1960 because Ferrari's main strength that year was straight-line speed and the organizers wanted to maximise this advantage.<ref name="History F1" /> The 1961 race saw the death of [[Wolfgang von Trips]] and fifteen spectators when a collision with [[Jim Clark]]'s [[Team Lotus|Lotus]] sent von Trips' car airborne and into the barriers at the approach to the Parabolica.<ref name=F1db/><ref name="History F1">{{cite web|title=A history of the Italian Grand Prix|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2004/9/2159.html|work=Formula1.com|publisher=Formula One Administration Ltd.|access-date=23 November 2010|date=8 September 2004}}</ref>

Although the accident did not occur on the oval section of the track, the high speeds were deemed unsafe and F1 use of the oval was ended. Another attempt was made to use the combined circuit for the 1963 race, but the extremely bumpy nature and poor overall quality of the concrete banking saw some cars suffer mechanically. The teams protested and threatened to leave unless only the road circuit was used, which is ultimately what happened.<ref name="Banking F1">{{cite web|title=The hidden history of the Monza banking|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2005/8/3500.html|work=Formula1.com|publisher=[[Formula One Group|Formula One Administration Ltd.]]|access-date=23 November 2010|date=30 August 2005}}</ref> Future Grands Prix were held on the shorter road circuit,<ref name=MonzaNet1955/> with the banking appearing one last time in the film ''[[Grand Prix (1966 film)|Grand Prix]]''.<ref name="Banking F1" /> New safety walls, rails and fences were added before the next race and the refuelling area was moved further from the track. Chicanes were added before both bankings in 1966, and another fatality in the 1968 1000&nbsp;km Monza race led to run-off areas added to the curves, with the track layout changing the next year to incorporate permanent chicanes before the banked curves – extending the track length by {{convert|100|m|yd|abbr=on}}.<ref name=MonzaNet1955/>

The combined circuit held its last major race in 1969 with the 1000&nbsp;km of Monza, the event moving solely to the road circuit the next year; the banking has never been used again for any major races.<ref name=MonzaNet1955/> The banking still exists, albeit in a decayed state in the years since the last race, escaping demolition in the 1990s. It is used once a year for the Monza Rally, which served part of the [[2021 World Rally Championship]], which was the first FIA championship event since 1969.<ref name="Banking F1" /> The banked oval was used several times for record breaking until the late 1960s, although the severe bumping was a major suspension and tyre test for the production cars attempting endurance records, such as the [[Ford Corsair]] GT which in 1964 captured 13 records.<ref>Monza year Book 1965.</ref>

===Circuit changes and modernisation===
[[File:1973 Nations GP - Monza - 250cc race accident.jpg|thumb|left|The race accident at the 1973 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix, where [[Renzo Pasolini]] and [[Jarno Saarinen]] died]]

Both car and [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing]] were regular attractions at Monza.<ref name=MonzaNet1955/> These races involved drivers constantly slipstreaming competing cars, which produced several close finishes, such as in [[1967 Italian Grand Prix|1967]], [[1969 Italian Grand Prix|1969]], and [[1971 Italian Grand Prix|1971]].

As the speed of the machines increased, two [[chicane]]s were added in 1972 to reduce racing speeds – the Variante del Rettifilo at the middle of the start/finish straight,<ref name=MonzaNet1972>{{cite web|title=1972–1978: Chicane and variants to reduce the high speed|url=http://www.monzanet.it/eng/storia_1972_78.aspx|work=Autodromo Nazionale Monza|publisher=MonzaNet.it|year=2007|access-date=17 September 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080611175253/http://www.monzanet.it/eng/storia_1972_78.aspx |archive-date = 11 June 2008}}</ref> and the Variante ''Ascari''.<ref name=F1db/> This resulted in a new circuit length of {{cvt|5.755|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref name=MonzaNet1972/> Grand Prix motorcycles continued to use the un-slowed road track until two serious accidents resulted in five deaths, including [[Renzo Pasolini]] and [[Jarno Saarinen]],<ref name=MonzaNet1972/> in 1973, and motorcycle racing did not return to Monza until 1981.<ref name=MonzaNet1972/> The 1972 chicanes were soon seen to be ineffective at slowing cars; the ''Vialone'' was remade in 1974,<ref name=MonzaNet1972/> the other, ''Curva Grande'' in 1976,<ref name=F1db/> and a third also added in 1976 before the ''Lesmo'', with extended run-off areas.<ref name=MonzaNet1972/> The Grand Prix lap after these alterations was increased to {{convert|5.800|km|mi|abbr=on}} long.<ref name=MonzaNet1972/>

With technology still increasing vehicle speeds the track was modified again in 1979 with added safety measures such as new kerbs, extended run-off areas and tyre-barriers to improve safety for drivers off the track.<ref name=MonzaNet1979>{{cite web|title=1979–1988: New works to update the circuit|url=http://www.monzanet.it/eng/storia_1979_88.aspx|work=Autodromo Nazionale Monza|publisher=MonzaNet.it|year=2007|access-date=17 September 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080415212811/http://www.monzanet.it/eng/storia_1979_88.aspx| archive-date = 15 April 2008}}</ref> The infrastructure was also improved, with pits able to accommodate 46 cars, and an upgraded paddock and scrutineering facilities.<ref name=MonzaNet1979/> These changes encouraged world championship motorcycling to return in 1981, but further safety work was undertaken through the 1980s.<ref name=MonzaNet1979/> Also in the 1980s the podium, paddock and pits complex, stands,<ref name=MonzaNet1979/><ref name=MonzaNet1989>{{cite web|title=1989–1997: New pit complex and the interventions for the security|url=http://www.monzanet.it/eng/storia_1989_97.aspx|work=Autodromo Nazionale Monza|publisher=MonzaNet.it|year=2007|access-date=17 September 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080413073732/http://www.monzanet.it/eng/storia_1989_97.aspx| archive-date = 13 April 2008}}</ref> and camp site were either rebuilt or improved.<ref name=F1db/>

As motorsport became more safety conscious following the deaths of [[Ayrton Senna]] and [[Roland Ratzenberger]] in {{f1|1994}} at the [[Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari|Imola circuit]], the three main long curves were "squeezed" in order to install larger gravel traps, shortening the lap to {{cvt|5.770|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref name=MonzaNet1989/> In {{f1|1997}} the stands were reworked to expand capacity to 51,000.<ref name=MonzaNet1989/> In {{f1|2000}}, the chicane on the main straight was altered, changing from a double left-right chicane to a single right-left chicane in an attempt to reduce the frequent accidents at the starts due to the conformation of the braking area, although it is still deemed unsafe in terms of motorcycle racing. The second chicane was also re-profiled. In the [[2000 Italian Grand Prix|Formula 1 Grand Prix of the same year]], the first to use these new chicanes, a fire marshal, Paolo Gislimberti, was killed by flying debris after a big pileup at the second chicane.<ref name=Clarin/>

In 2007, the run-off area at the second chicane was changed from gravel to asphalt. The length of the track in its current configuration is {{cvt|5.793|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref name=F1.comLap/> At the [[2010 Monza Superbike World Championship round]], Italian rider [[Max Biaggi]] set the fastest ever motorcycle lap of Monza when he rode his [[Aprilia RSV 4|Aprilia RSV4 1000 F]] to pole position in a time of 1:42.121. In the Superpole qualification for the 2011 race, he improved on this lap time, for a new lap record of 1:41.745 and his speed was captured at more than {{cvt|330|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}.

In late 2016, work was planned on a new first bend, which would have bypassed the first chicane and the Curva Grande. Drivers were to go through a fast right hand kink and into a new, faster chicane. Work was planned for to be completed by 2017 in hopes of a renewed contract for Formula 1. Gravel would have also returned to the run-off area at the Parabolica bend.<ref name=Monza2017>{{cite web |title=New Monza over a second faster for F1 – and Parabolica gravel will return |url=http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2016/06/01/new-monza-second-quicker-f1-cars-2017/ |publisher=F1 Fanatic |date=1 June 2016 |access-date=11 June 2016}}</ref> However, plans for the track's change were suspended due to the track being in the historic [[Monza Park]].{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} Ahead of the [[2024 Italian Grand Prix]], the Monza Circuit underwent significant changes. This forced [[FIA World Endurance Championship|WEC]] to abandon the [[6 Hours of Monza]], moving it to the [[Imola Circuit]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://racingnews365.com/wec-to-visit-imola-and-qatar-for-the-first-time-in-2024|title=WEC to visit Imola and Qatar for the first time in 2024|last=Mitchell|first=Rory|date=9 June 2023|access-date=2 April 2024|website=RacingNews365}}</ref> In addition to facility improvements, changes included a resurfacing of the entire track.<ref>{{cite web |title=Major Monza renovation and resurfacing work begins| last=Wood |first=Will |url=https://www.racefans.net/2024/01/09/racefans-round-up-09-01-6/ |website=RaceFans.net |date=9 January 2024 |access-date=30 August 2024}}</ref>