Editing Monza Circuit (section)

===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>