1971 Italian Grand Prix
| 1971 Italian Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
The close finish of the race, with five drivers crossing the finish line within a second | |||
| Race details | |||
| Date | 5 September 1971 | ||
| Official name | 42º Gran Premio d'Italia | ||
| Location |
Autodromo Nazionale di Monza Monza, Lombardy, Italy | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 5.750 km (3.573 miles) | ||
| Distance | 55 laps, 316.25 km (196.515 miles) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Matra | ||
| Time | 1:22.4 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver | Henri Pescarolo | March-Ford | |
| Time | 1:23.8 on lap 9 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | BRM | ||
| Second | March-Ford | ||
| Third | Tyrrell-Ford | ||
|
Lap leaders | |||
The 1971 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Monza on 5 September 1971. It was race 9 of 11 in both the 1971 World Championship of Drivers and the 1971 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers.
This race featured the closest finish in Formula One history, as Peter Gethin beat Ronnie Peterson by 0.01 seconds. The top five were covered by just 0.61 seconds, with François Cevert finishing third, Mike Hailwood fourth and Howden Ganley fifth. With an average speed of 242.615 km/h (150.754 mph), this race stood as the fastest-ever Formula One race for 32 years, until the 2003 Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
Furthermore, it would turn out to be Gethin's only Grand Prix victory before retiring from Formula One in 1974.