Monza mutters

It was the first Grand Prix win for Firestone tyres; while Dunlop gave a party for the members of the Grand Prix “circus” on Friday after practice, and Goodyear did the same before practice on Saturday, Firestone kept theirs for Sunday night and celebrated this first victory.

Although he retired from the race Jack Brabham cannot be beaten on points for the Drivers’ Championship as Surtees and Stewart also retired, they being his only challengers.

Colin Chapman was very pleased with the performance of young Giacomo Russo (“Gek “) for he completed the race without making a mark on the Lotus-Climax V8, more than justifying the loan of the car.

Mike Spence drove another good race with an obsolete car and it is to he hoped that Tim Parnell can soon provide him with a more competitive machine.

As the race finished a sinister looking fire broke out behind the paddock and many people thought there was trouble in the car park. It was the M.G.M. film-makers adding a touch of “realism” to their idea of the end of the Italian Grand Prix.

With a record lap at nearly 140 m.p.h. and a race average of over 135 m.p.h. the new 3-litre Grand Prix cars have really made their mark, and we are not at the end of the first season yet.