Amon breaks track record at Monza

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32704, 6 September 1971, Page 3

Amon breaks track record at Monza

(1V.Z.P..4.-Reuter—Copyrighi) MONZA (Italy).

The New Zealander, C. Amon, on Saturday broke the 250 kilometres an hour (155 miles an hour) barrier for the first time-in the history of the Monza track during official practice for the Italian Grand Prix.

At the wheel of his 12cylinder Matra, the New Zealander drove round in a record time of Imin 22.45ec, giving him an average of 251.213 k.p.h. (156.093 m.p.h.) to win the pole position for the big race. The organisers at first announced that J. Ickx (Belgium) had scored the fastest time of the day in his Ferrari at Imin 22.825ec, but after an appeal by Amon, they announced the new record.

Ickx’s time also would have been a record, inside the

previous best for the circuit clocked by the late P. Rodriguez, of Mexico, in a 5-litre 917 K Porsche last April, when he went round in Imin 24sec.

The New Zealander, H. Ganley, in a 8.R.M., with a time of Imin 23.155ec, won a position-in the second row on the grid. STEWART FIFTH It was a field day for the 12-cylinder cars, for almost the first time this season, and Scotland’s J. Stewart in his 8-cylinder Tyrrell-Ford could

only manage the fifth best time.

He will start seventh on the grid, with both F. Cevert, of France, and R. Peterson, the Swedish driver, ahead of him.

J. Siffert, of Switzerland, in his 8.R.M., who headed the list after Friday’s practice with a time of limin 23.175ec, managed to improve to Imin 23.035ec but could not get into the front row with Amon or Ickx.

The second Ferrari, driven by C. Regazzoni, starts eighth on the grid, after recording a time of Imin 23.695ec. Grid placlngs tor the Italian Grand Prix include:—

First row.—Amon, Ickx. Second row: Siffert, Ganhjy. Third row: Ceyert (France), ’lyrrell-Ford, 1 min 23.415ec, Peterson (Sweden), March, Imin 23.46tiec.