Tag: Monza winner jinx
F1 Racing – Fernando Alonso wins at Italian Grand Prix
by Stephen Lars on Sep.14, 2010, under Motor Sports, Sports News
Not since 2006, when Michael Schumacher was still racing for Ferrari, and was considered among many to be the finest F1 driver, had the team who calls Monza its home court. The Legendary, capital-L shaped course, was build back in 1922, and it is one of the longest running events in the Formula 1 racing calendar. The 5.79 km long course holds a certain signification for the Italian world-renown sports car maker Ferrari.
For instance, Ferrari has been the most successful maker in this course. The red car team has been a key protagonist on this course. The red team has won 19 F1 races, including Fernando Alonso’s first as a Ferrari man. That’s 19 of the 71 times that the race has been held at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.
Michael Schumacher has been the fastest driver in this circuit. Back in his golden years, Shumi won 5 races in this course. But that was prior to his off-the-courses years, because since the professional hiatus, truth be said, Schumacher has not been able to completely make it back to the top of his sport. But Fernando has. This most recent win has really opened up the chance to fight for the drivers’ championship. He is now among the top 5 drivers and only 21 points behind the leader Mark Webber.
For you guys out there who enjoy betting on the Formula One, here is an interesting fact. Popular believe, and by this we mean a believe among more dedicated F1 spectators, there is a very powerful jinx against the racer who wins at the Italian Grand Prix. With the exception of the late Ayrton Sena and the great Michael Schumacher, over the last two decades no racer who has won at Monza has managed to keep on his streak and win the drivers championship.
Could the Spaniard, Fernando Alonso, be able to break the spell? He has been among the youngest and most successful drivers in the F1. Perhaps only the German young-gun, Sebastian Vettel has experimented such success at such an early age. Now, for this race, Alonso started winning the pole position in the qualifying stage of the race. Nevertheless, a very bad start from Alonso gave forth to Jason Button’s efforts and he lost the first place after the first turn.
Team McClaren had the lead for many laps. But at the end, thanks to Ferrari’s well planned race tactics, the Spaniard was able to recover his first place after the second pit stop. From there on, Alonso was able to keep up his good rhythm and finished with a 2.6 second lead over Jenson Button. The Brazilian Felippe Massa of Ferrari completed the podium. Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel came in fourth.
Alonso, who has won 24 races as a professional formula one driver, is now dreaming with a chance to win another championship. He has been on the top of the sport twice. He won the F1 drivers Championship in 2005 and 2006. If he can keep up his good performance in the Asian part of the championship, Fernando could very well be on his way to claim his third driver’s championship.


