This weekend Formula 1 returns to Monza - the fastest circuit on earth and arguably one of the most legendary. Monza hosted some of the greatest and some of the deadliest races in the history of Formula 1.
La Pista Magica is in the grounds of a former royal park, just north of Milan. The first race was hosted there in 1922 and in Monza and the team most associated with it, Ferrari, Italy finds its spiritual motoring home.
This weekend will see several Italians racing. Jarno Trulli with Toyota, Giancarlo Fisichella with Ferrari and the new entry Vitantonio Liuzzi with Force India.
Liuzzi is replacing Fisichella who moved to Ferrari for the last five races of the season to replace Massa.
Monza is a great place both for Fisichella to debut in the Ferrari and Liuzzi to prove that he's got what it takes. With straights that allow speeds approaching 370kph (230mph) and the legendary Parabolica turn it is a place where racing legends can be made, but also destroyed.
There are plenty of new racing tracks around the world nowadays from Dubai to Malaysia and more are springing up. There all offer great things, but that magic mixture of history and legend can only be found in few places and Monza is one of them.
Below is a great clip from the 1966 Grand Prix movie which describes Monza and what drivers faced wonderfully.
