1979 Italian Grand Prix
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| Race details | ||
|---|---|---|
| Race 13 of 15 in the 1979 Formula One season. | ||
| Date | September 9, 1979 | |
| Official name | L Gran Premio d'Italia | |
| Location | Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza | |
| Course | Permanent racing facility 3,60 mi / 5.800 km |
|
| Distance | 50 laps, 180.20 mi / 290.000 km | |
| Weather | Dry and sunny | |
| Pole position | ||
| Driver |  Jean-Pierre Jabouille |
Renault |
| Time | 1:34.580 | |
| Fastest lap | ||
| Driver |  Clay Regazzoni |
Williams-Ford |
| Time | 1:35.60 on lap 46 | |
| Podium | ||
| First |  Jody Scheckter |
Ferrari |
| Second |  Gilles Villeneuve |
Ferrari |
| Third | Clay Regazzoni |
Williams-Ford |
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".
[edit] Classification
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[edit] Notes
- Lap Leaders: Jody Scheckter 39 laps (1, 13-50); René Arnoux 11 laps (2-12).
| Previous race: 1979 Dutch Grand Prix |
FIA Formula One World Championship 1979 season |
Next race: 1979 Canadian Grand Prix |
| Previous race: 1978 Italian Grand Prix |
Italian Grand Prix | Next race: 1980 Italian Grand Prix |
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by 1978 British Grand Prix |
Formula One Promotional Trophy for Race Promoter 1979 |
Succeeded by 1980 Italian Grand Prix |
