The Autodromo Nazionale Monza – known as the “Temple of Speed”. The track is about as straight as a “road course” gets. Long straights, with long looping turns at either end. Several chicanes are designed to slow the cars down prior to the turns, in an effort to minimize the off track excursions an F1 car, or any racer for that fact, may take.
The original track was built in 1922. Monza joined the F1 circuit in 1950 as part of a 6 race series under the management of the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile).
Of those 6 tracks, Silverstone, Monaco, Spa and Monza are the only ones still running F1 races today. Good news though, after a 10-year or so absence, France will once again host an F1 race. This time, the Paul Ricard circuit will play host.
Monza only the 3rd purpose-built race track in the world, was built at a time when many racing circuits were simply street, Monaco, or country roads that connected small towns, such as Spa and Nurburg. Add to that, Monza actually has 3 tracks intertwined with one another. The F1 circuit, a smaller junior circuit for karting and smaller series racing, and the old oval. But the track is also incredibly dangerous, claiming the lives of over 50 drivers, and 35 or more spectators in past years.
The track is also a favorite or drivers, where 75% of the lap is at full throttle. Going full blast down the straights, F1 cars have topped speeds over 230mph. Modern cars, with more down force and smaller engines, still are hitting over 210mph. And that’s going on for the full length of a race. The lap times are so fast, the race usually last about an hour and 40 minutes. Watching in person, I was amazed at how fast it went. By the time I thought about leaving my seat, I looked up and there were only 5 laps left.
The old Monza oval is still a part of the infield. Although fenced, you see the old track without even realizing it. Looking up at the white wall above the tunnel, you suddenly realize that the banking of the oval. Whoa! Walking along the pit exit, you look over at the corroding concrete and realize its the banking exit on to the old straight. It woven into the fabric of the current track. And presents that interesting conundrum of what to do with history: Leave it and make a monument of it, or tear it down and build anew. At Monza, they’ve opted for C, do both. But looking at these pictures of decaying concrete and rusting rebar, and you have to wonder, how much longer will these banks hold up? Only time will tell.
The Monza track experienced a whirlwind of weather race weekend. Saturday morning, we take the train to the Biassono-Lesom Parco station, and walk in through the Lesmo entry. An under-track tunnel leads us to the infield and we watch the first passing of GP2 cars. Ironically, GP2 cars still run normally aspirated V8s, so I get the full force of the racing rumble from the engines. The acceleration coming out of The Lesmos, a double-apex set of turns. I can’t believe I’m actually here! the weather was perfect race weather, a little over cast to keep it cool so walking around the track doesn’t result in 
drenched sweat-soaked clothes. Great day for racing. But then Saturday morning wakes up to a torrential down pour resulting in a soaked track, mud pits and first canceled, then delayed qualifying. We tried walking the infield, visiting the Fan Zone and seeing the vendors for hats and shirts. The entire in-field is a mud field. And its a 20-minute walk for our grandstands to get here, but at least there’s some cover for the car displays. Then the clouds open yet again and we decide enough is enough. At this point qualifying has been delayed over an hour and it’s actually getting dark. Oh well, they’ll have qualifying Sunday morning, so lets get going before the crowds swamp us or it turns so bad that we can’t even walk through it. We head out, and sure enough, as we get 5 minutes from the train station, we hear the sounds of screaming, actually sort of a loud whisper, F1 cars climbing over the park walls. Oh well, we’re here now, and since on Saturday they only allow you to go through your designated gates, the thought of that 20-minute walk back was out of the question and Eataly was on our minds.
Saturday we wake to a beautiful day, the heat has returned, so it’s a perfect summer-spring afternoon. Just warm enough to lighten the heart and get us in the mood for some racing. And now, with jackets off, the Tifosi are abundant. Ferrai red is everywhere, and the fans have a lot to cheer for; Vettel and Räikkönen have been right behind the Mercedes or Hamilton and Bottas all weekend, so maybe there’s a shot of getting a good start. Unfortunately, Räikkönen falls behind Ricciardo in the race, but at least Vettel maintains 3rd for a podium and a reason for everyone to head down onto the track at the end of the race. Filling the race track is a fan tradition of the Italian GP. Unlike any other ace, this is 100% fan initiated, and everyone, I mean everyone heads down to the track. If you’re in the grand stands, the life force of everyone getting to the track literally pulls you down onto the asphalt. You can’t help yourself. Who wants to be the guy whogoes all the way to Monza, and then doesn’t go down on the track? Duh! So you go, and it is quite a thrill to be up close and persoanl like this. And then you look down, and notice the cracks in the track. wow, these guys are going flat out at over 200mph, and the track has cracks!?! As if F1 racing wasn’t dangerous enough.
