The 1950 Modena Grand Prix was a Formula Two motor race held on 7 May 1950 to inaugurate the Aerautodromo di Modena, Italy. Raced in front of 50,000 spectators, the 304 km race was won by Italian driver Alberto Ascari in a Ferrari 166 F2/50. Ascari also set the fastest lap and started from pole position.
History After the severe accident at the 8th Circuito Automobilistico di Modena on 28 September 1947, when Giovanni Bracco's Delage 3000 crashed into the crowd at 130 km/h, killing 5 spectators and injuring 19, street racing in the city was brought to an end. It was then decided to build a modern racetrack, similar to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (where spectators could watch the entire race), to serve the hometown automakers Ferrari, Maserati, and Stanguellini.
Construction of the track, which would also serve as an airport (later inaugurated on 12 December), began on 28 March 1949. On 7 May, the aerodrome was officially inaugurated by the Minister of the Merchant Navy, Alberto Simonini, alongside other civil, military, and religious authorities.
Race The public was eager to see the duel between Juan Manuel Fangio and Ascari. Ascari was driving a new Ferrari 166 F2/50 featuring a De Dion tube rear suspension and a rounded nose, while the Argentine was equipped with an older model.
The Grand Prix started at 15:50 under the rain. Dorino Serafini made the best start, taking the lead, but was quickly overtaken by Ascari, followed by Fangio in third. A few laps later, El Chueco regained second position, but on lap 19 he was forced to retire due to an engine connecting rod failure. Ascari won the race at an average speed of 108.875 km/h, followed by Mario Tadini two laps down. Piero Carini in an OSCA finished third, after a long battle with Sergio Sighinolfi's Stanguellini (who later retired on lap 29).
Classification Pos No. Driver Entrant Car Laps Time/Retired 1 14 Alberto Ascari Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 166 F2/50 80 2:47:31.4 2 20 Mario Tadini Private Ferrari 166 F2 78 +2 laps 3 Piero Carini Automobili OSCA OSCA MT4 76 +4 laps 4 Nello Pagani Scuderia Achille Varzi Simca-Gordini T15 74 +6 laps 5 Pietro Palmieri Private Maserati A6GCS 72 +8 laps 6 Vittorio Casalegno Private Cisitalia D46-Fiat 70 +10 laps 7 Angelo Mijorini Private Cisitalia D46-Fiat 68 +12 laps Ret Sergio Sighinolfi Automobili Stanguellini Stanguellini-Fiat 29 Retired Ret 18 Dorino Serafini Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 166 F2 24 Cylinder head Ret 16 Juan Manuel Fangio Automovil Club Argentina Ferrari 166 F2 17 Engine Ret Clemente Biondetti Private Ferrari 166 SC 12 Gearbox Ret Roberto Mieres Scuderia Achille Varzi Simca-Gordini T15 11 Suspension Ret Ernesto Bianchi Private Cisitalia D46-Fiat 6 Accident
See also Aerautodromo di Modena Modena Grand Prix
References
External links 1950 Modena Grand Prix at Motorsport Magazine I. Gran Premio di Modena 1950 – Formula 2 Race at MitoRosso.com I Gran Premio di Modena 1950 at The Fastlane
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