Gran Premio d'ltalia

The annual 500-mile automobile race at the Indianapolis Speedway is a joyride compared to a race like the Gran Premio d'ltalia at Monza, the purpose of which is to test handling ability, brakes, acceleration, by means of curves. This year officials removed the famed Lesmo curve, which each year has claimed one or more victims, altered the course to include ten right-angle curves, reversed the direction of the race which, like all others in Europe, had always been clockwise.

Last week, 16 of the best drivers in Europe whizzed across the starting line in tiny bug-shaped cars. Four hours and 45 minutes later, the winner, Italy's Fagioli. crossed the finish line in front of the grandstand where 50,000 people were shouting loud enough to drown the sound of the cars roaring in behind him. His time, in a Mercedes shaped like a blunt crochet-hook with a notch for the driver's seat, averaged 105 kilometres an hour, 70 kilometres slower than his winning speed over the old course last year.

The fact that most races are run in the opposite direction is not the only difference between auto-racing abroad and in the U. S. In Europe, it is a fashionable sport. One of the three drivers killed at the Monza Autodrome last year was Count Czaikowski of Poland, whose car overturned and burned when it skidded in the middle of the track. Same day Whitney Straight, cousin of Cornelius Vanderbilt ("Sonny") Whitney, narrowly missed death when his car skidded on an oil spot. Only U. S. driver entered at Monza last week, Whitney Straight finished ninth, in a Maserati.

Last week's Gran Premio had a special importance for manufacturers of European racing cars. The French Grand Prix was won this year by an Italian Alfa-Romeo, the German classic by a German Auto-Union. The changes in the Monza track were expected to help the Italian cars which have less straightaway speed than the German. The victory of a Mer- cedes gave Germany first place for the year. Second finisher last week was Germany's Von Stuck, whose Auto-Union won the German race.

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