Formula 1 1979 Italian Grand Prix

1979 Italian Grand Prix
EDIT
Italy 1979 Italian Grand Prix
← Previous Round Next →
1979 Dutch Grand Prix 13 of 1979 1979 Canadian Grand Prix

Autodromo Nazionale Monza for 1979
Race details
Date
9 September, 1979
Official Name
L Gran Premio d'Italia
Location
Autodromo Nazionale Monza
Monza, Italy
Course
Permanent racing facility
5.800km (3.605mi)
Distance
40 laps, 232.000km (144.189 miles)
Pole Position
Driver
France Jean-Pierre Jabouille
France Renault
Time
1:34.580
Fastest Lap
Driver
Switzerland Clay Regazzoni
United Kingdom Williams-Ford Cosworth
Time
1:35.60 on lap 46
Podium
First
South Africa Jody Scheckter
Italy Ferrari
Second
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
Italy Ferrari
Third
Switzerland Clay Regazzoni
United Kingdom Williams-Ford Cosworth
Lap Leaders

The 1979 Italian Grand Prix, otherwise known as the L Gran Premio d'Italia, was the thirteenth round of the 1979 FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza on the 9 September 1979.[1] The race would see Jody Scheckter claim his maiden World Championship crown as he swept to victory at the head of a Ferrari one-two.[1]

Qualifying would see the two Renaults sweep to a front row lock-out, however, with their V6 turbocharged engines outclassing the rest of the field.[1] Jean-Pierre Jabouille was the faster of the pair, beating René Arnoux by a tenth of a second, with Scheckter and Alan Jones sharing the second row.[1]

At the start, however, it would be a different story, with Scheckter streaking between the two sluggish Renaults off the line to claim an early lead.[1] Scheckter's teammate Gilles Villeneuve, meanwhile, would make an even better getaway from fifth and duly slotted into third behind Arnoux, while Jones dropped to the back of the field.[1]

The top five of Scheckter, Arnoux, Villeneuve, Jacques Laffite and Jabouille soon pulled clear of the rest of the field, running nose-to-tail.[1] Indeed, Arnoux proved to be the man to watch early on, with the V6t Renault cruising past Scheckter on the second lap to grab the lead, although the South African tried to hang on through the Rettifilo.[2]

Elsewhere Nelson Piquet demolished his car at Curva Grande, bouncing off the side of Clay Regazzoni before bouncing along the barriers, while Jones was limping along with a misfire at the back of the field.[2] There would also be early retirements for Patrick Tambay, while Villeneuve found himself under attack from Laffite.[2]

Unfortunately for Laffite, whose title hopes relied on Scheckter failing to win, Arnoux's race was over with a misfire come the end of lap thirteen, while Villeneuve continued to thwart his attacks.[1] Indeed, their squabbling had allowed Scheckter to build a small lead out front, while Villeneuve redoubled his efforts to keep Laffite and Jabouille at bay.[1]

It was to be status quo at the head of the field until the closing stages of the race, when the two Ferraris suddenly found themselves on their own, Laffite and Jabouille suffering late engine failures.[1] That released Villeneuve, who was under no team orders to hold station behind Scheckter, to attack his teammate for the lead, with the two Ferraris still running nose-to-tail.[1]

Ultimately, however, there would be no change in the lead at the end of the race, meaning it was Scheckter whom claimed victory and the World Championship crown.[1] Villeneuve was right with him to secure the International Cup for Constructors title for the Scuderia in-front of the loyal tifosi, while Regazzoni completed a very popular podium in his Williams.[1]