Brazilian Grand Prix
The Brazilian Grand Prix is the last grand prix in the Formula 1 championship
season and has often been the setting for the determining of the World title,
wherein the winner of the Brazilian Grand Prix may not also be the World
champion, which sometimes feels as if two drivers had won here instead of one.
The first Brazilian Grand Prix was held in 1972 at the Autódromo de Interlagos
at Săo Paulo, but it only became part of the Formula 1 championship a year
later. The Brazilian GP was relocated momentarily to the Jacarepagua Circuit at
Rio de Janeiro in 1978, returning to Interlagos the following year, and then
back to Jacarepagua in 1981, where it remained until 1989. The Brazilian GP then
returned to Interlagos in 1990 and has been held there ever since.
The Interlagos circuit is one of the most challenging in the F1 calendar, partly
because it is one of the very few to race in a counter-clockwise direction. The
original design of the track would let drivers keep a maximum speed for over
twenty seconds, which was considered very dangerous, although it is also
distinct in that there have been no fatalities at the Brazilian GP in the
Formula 1 series. Shortened and modified, the track is still very challenging
because of its hilly nature, unlike most circuits built on a flat plane.
Brazil decided it wanted to stage its own grand prix after Emerson Fittipaldi
began to make a name for himself in the F1, winning the Formula 1 championship
in 1972 at 25 years of age, the youngest to win the Formula 1 until Fernando
Alonso won at 24 in 2005. Fittipaldi won the first Brazilian Grand Prix that was
part of the F1 series, and again a year later in 1974. Another Brazilian who has
won twice at his home grand prix is Ayrton Senna, who has a kart circuit in the
track named after him, as well as a stretch of the circuit, called “Senna’s S.”
Both Brazilian Grand Prix circuits were renamed to pay tribute to their
Brazilian sons; Jacarepagua became Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet while
Interlagos is now officially the Autódromo Jose Carlos Pace. Interestingly, Pace
only won the Brazilian Grand Prix once, at Interlagos, while Piquet won twice,
both at Jacarepagua.
Another interesting fact is that at the first Brazilian Grand Prix that would
determine the World championship, Fernando Alonso became the youngest race car
driver to win the World title, but only placed third at that 2005 Brazilian
Grand Prix, after his rival Kimi Räikkönen and GP winner Juan Pablo Montoya.
Michael Schumacher drove his very last grand prix at Interlagos in 2006, but did
not win, placing third after Alonso and Brazilian son Felipe Massa. Schumacher
also does not hold the record for most wins at the Brazilian Grand Prix,
although he does tie with Carlos Reutemann for four wins. Alain Prost has the
most wins in Brazil, with six. In 2007, Räikkönen won the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Fans from abroad arrive at Săo Paulo’s Guarulhos airport, which is 30 km from
the circuit. To get to the city, arrange a rental car or take a taxi; buses are
cheaper, of course, but quite crowded. Taxis are also much faster, which is
imperative when rushing from your hotel to the circuit. Săo Paulo is a huge and
bustling city, so finding hotels that run the full spectrum of the price range,
will prove to be quite easy.
There are no general admission tickets at Interlagos, because the surrounding
area is marshy, thanks to its location between two lakes, which is where it got
its name. Instead, the grandstand is divided into two prices for Brazilian Grand
Prix tickets. The spectator capacity of the Interlagos circuit is not as big as
the others in the series, so make sure to get your seats early.
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