1928 Italian Grand Prix

Last updated
1928 Italian Grand Prix
Race 2 of 2 in the 1928 World Manufacturers' Championship
Circuit Monza 1922.svg
Race details
DateSeptember 9, 1928
Official name VIII Gran Premio d'Italia
VI Grand Prix d'Europe
Location Monza, Italy
Course Autodromo Nazionale di Monza
Course length 10.00 km (6.21 miles)
Distance 60 laps, 600.00 km (372.82 miles)
Pole position
Driver
Grid positions set by ballot
Fastest lap
Driver Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Luigi Arcangeli Talbot
Time 3:37.4
Podium
First Bugatti
Second Alfa Romeo
Third Bugatti

The 1928 Italian Grand Prix was a Grand Prix motor race run on 9 September 1928, at Monza. It was run over 60 laps, and was won by Louis Chiron driving a Bugatti 37A. It was the 8th Italian Grand Prix. This race was also the VI Grand Prix d'Europe. [1]

This race was marred by the death of at least 22 spectators as well as driver Emilio Materassi on lap 17, when Materassi lost control of his car on the main straight at over 200 km/h while trying to overtake Giulio Foresti. The car swerved to the left of the track, bounced over a three-meter deep and four-meter wide protection ditch and a fence and crashed into the grandstand, killing him along with 22 spectators. [1] [2] Other sources have stated that 27 spectators were killed overall, but this is unconfirmed. [3]

By either estimation this is the worst accident, with respect to the number of lives lost, to occur at a Grand Prix, and the second-deadliest in motor racing history, being surpassed by the 1955 Le Mans disaster. [1] As a result the Italian Grand Prix was not held again until 1931. [2]

The fatal accident of Emilio Materassi during the race. Incidente di materassi-monza.jpg
The fatal accident of Emilio Materassi during the race.

Classification

PosNoDriverConstructorLapsTime/RetiredGrid
150 Flag of Monaco.svg Louis Chiron Bugatti T37A 603:45:08.614
238 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Achille Varzi
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Giuseppe Campari
Alfa Romeo P2 60+2:20.421
326 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Tazio Nuvolari Bugatti T35C 60+14:37.29
440 Flag of France.svg Guy Drouet Bugatti T35B 60+14:40.016
56 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Aymo Maggi Maserati 26R (8C-1700) 60+25:09.022
642 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Ernesto Maserati Maserati 26R (8C-1700) 55+5 laps13
722 Flag of France.svg Guy Bouriat Bugatti T35 55+5 laps10
810 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Giulio Foresti Bugatti T35C 54+6 laps2
NC24 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Edoardo Probst Bugatti T37A 45+15 laps7
NC36 Flag of France.svg J-C d'Ahetze Bugatti T37A 40+20 laps12
Ret2 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Baconin Borzacchini Maserati 26R (8C-2000) 26Wheel1
Ret28 Flag of France.svg Pierre Blaque Belair Bugatti T35C 24+36 laps11
Ret46 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Luigi Arcangeli Talbot 700 19Withdrawn17
Ret44 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Antonio Brivio Talbot 700 18Withdrawn20
Ret8 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Gastone Brilli-Peri Talbot 700 17Withdrawn5
Ret18 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Emilio Materassi Talbot 700 17Fatal crash3
Ret48 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Gianfranco Comotti Talbot 700 16Withdrawn19
Ret32 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Carlo Tonini Bugatti T35C 15Mechanical15
Ret20 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Giulio Aymini Delage 2LCV 14Mechanical6
Ret12 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg William Grover-Williams Bugatti T35C 5Engine4
Ret30 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Cleto Nenzioni Bugatti T37A 2Mechanical8
Ret52 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Mario Piccolo Maserati 26 (8C-1500) 1Mechanical18
DNA4 Flag of Argentina.svg Manuel Blancas Bugatti T35B Did not appear
DNA14 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Giuseppe Gilera Bugatti T35 Did not appear
DNA16 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg J. Ghica-Cantacuzene Cozette Spl. Did not appear
DNA34 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Ugo Stefanelli Bugatti T35 Did not appear
DNA54 Flag of Argentina.svg Manuel Ceratto Delage 2LCV Did not appear
DNA56 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Federico Fisauli Maserati Tipo 26 Did not appear
DNA58 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Ruggiero Bisighin Bugatti Did not appear
DNA60 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Alberto Kechler Alfa-Romeo 6C-1500 Did not appear
DNA62 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Roberto Serboli Delage 2LCV Did not appear

Fastest Lap: Luigi Arcangeli, 3m37.4 (165.59 km/h)

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "1928 GRAND PRIX SEASON -". www.goldenera.fi. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  2. 1 2 "Motorsport Memorial -". www.motorsportmemorial.org. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  3. Spurgeon, Brad (2012-09-07). "Italy's Grand Prix? Only at Monza". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2024-01-07.
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