1928 Italian Grand Prix Explained

Type:WMC
Grand Prix:Italian
Date:September 9
Year:1928
Official Name:VIII Gran Premio d'Italia
VI Grand Prix d'Europe
Country:Italy
Flag Suffix:1861
Race No:2
Season No:2
Location:Monza, Italy
Course:Autodromo Nazionale di Monza
Course Mi:6.21
Course Km:10.00
Distance Laps:60
Distance Mi:372.82
Distance Km:600.00
Pole Driver:Baconin Borzacchini
Pole Country:Italy
Pole Flag Suffix:1861
Grid From Ballot:True
Fast Driver:Luigi Arcangeli
Fast Team:Talbot
Fast Time:3:37.4
Fast Country:Italy
Fast Flag Suffix:1861
First Driver:Louis Chiron
First Team:Bugatti
First Country:Monaco
Second Driver:Achille Varzi
Second Team:Alfa Romeo
Second Country:Italy
Second Flag Suffix:1861
Second Driver2:Giuseppe Campari
Second Country2:Italy
Second Flag Suffix2:1861
Third Driver:Tazio Nuvolari
Third Team:Bugatti
Third Country:Italy
Third Flag Suffix:1861

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.

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. As a result the Italian Grand Prix was not held again until 1931.

Classification

PosNoDriverConstructorLapsTime/RetiredGrid
150 Louis ChironBugatti T37A603:45:08.614
238 Achille Varzi
Giuseppe Campari
Alfa Romeo P260+2:20.421
326 Tazio Nuvolari Bugatti T35C60+14:37.29
440 Guy DrouetBugatti T35B60+14:40.016
56 Aymo MaggiMaserati 26R (8C-1700)60+25:09.022
642 Ernesto Maserati Maserati 26R (8C-1700)55+5 laps13
7 22 Guy Bouriat Bugatti T35 55 +5 laps10
8 10 Giulio Foresti Bugatti T35C 54 +6 laps2
NC 24 Edoardo Probst Bugatti T37A 45 +15 laps7
NC 36 J-C d'Ahetze Bugatti T37A 40 +20 laps12
Ret 2 Baconin BorzacchiniMaserati 26R (8C-2000) 26 Wheel 1
Ret 28 Pierre Blaque BelairBugatti T35C 24 +36 laps11
Ret 46 Luigi Arcangeli Talbot 700 19 Withdrawn17
Ret 44 Antonio Brivio Talbot 700 18 Withdrawn20
Ret 8 Gastone Brilli-PeriTalbot 700 17 Withdrawn5
Ret 18 Emilio Materassi Talbot 700 17 Fatal crash3
Ret 48 Gianfranco Comotti Talbot 700 16 Withdrawn19
Ret 32 Carlo ToniniBugatti T35C 15 Mechanical15
Ret 20 Giulio Aymini Delage 2LCV 14 Mechanical6
Ret 12 William Grover-Williams Bugatti T35C 5 Engine4
Ret 30 Cleto Nenzioni Bugatti T37A 2Mechanical8
Ret 52 Mario Piccolo Maserati 26 (8C-1500) 1 Mechanical18
DNA 4 Manuel BlancasBugatti T35B Did not appear
DNA 14 Giuseppe GileraBugatti T35 Did not appear
DNA 16 J. Ghica-Cantacuzene Cozette Spl. Did not appear
DNA 34 Ugo Stefanelli Bugatti T35 Did not appear
DNA 54 Manuel Ceratto Delage 2LCV Did not appear
DNA 56 Federico Fisauli Maserati Tipo 26 Did not appear
DNA 58 Ruggiero Bisighin Bugatti Did not appear
DNA 60 Alberto Kechler Alfa-Romeo 6C-1500 Did not appear
DNA 62 Roberto Serboli Delage 2LCV Did not appear

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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1928 GRAND PRIX SEASON - . 2024-01-07 . www.goldenera.fi.
  2. Web site: Motorsport Memorial - . 2024-01-07 . www.motorsportmemorial.org.
  3. News: Spurgeon . Brad . 2012-09-07 . Italy's Grand Prix? Only at Monza . 2024-01-07 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.