Next Italian Grand Prix : 2010-09-12 |
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Autodromo Nazionale Monza is a motorsport race track near the town of Monza, north of Milan. It is one of the most historic motor racing circuits in the world.
The site has three tracks – the 5.793 km (3.600 mi) Grand Prix track, the 2.405 km (1.494 mi) Junior track and a decaying 4.25 km (2.64 mi) high speed track with steep bankings. Major features of the main track include the Curva di Lesmo, the Curva Parabolica, and the Variante Ascari. The high speed curve, Curva Grande, is located after a slow corner but usually taken flat out by Grand Prix cars.
The circuit, better known for hosting the Formula One Italian Grand Prix, is notable for the fact that drivers are on full throttle for a higher-than-average percentage of the lap due to its long straights and is usually the scenario in which the open-wheeled F1 cars show the raw speed they are capable of (372 km/h (231 mph) during the V10 formula). It is mostly a flat circuit but has a notable, but gradual, gradient from the second Lesmos to the Variante Ascari.
The Monza circuit has been the arena of some of the most tragic episodes in Formula One racing, especially in the early years of the world championship. Since those times, modifications have been introduced to improve spectators safety and reduce curve speed, but it is still criticized by the current drivers by its lack of run-off areas, most notoriously at the chicane that cuts the Variante della Roggia.
The circuit is also known to be the spiritual home of the Scuderia Ferrari and their passionate supporters, the Tifosi.

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