Quote Originally Posted by Stan Reid View Post
Yes, I remember seeing the Monza race on Wide World of Sports, tape delayed, (if I recall) and, although the spectators and driver loss of life was mentioned, it was blown off with less caring than if a racehorse had fallen and broken its leg. The big story was that an American had won the World Championship no matter that it was because the lead driver was killed.
The Monza accident actually claimed more lives than the Mille Miglia, yet My impression is that the MM accident caused reams of bad publicity In Italy against motor racing. Mind you the 50s were bad in Italy with respect to drivers' deaths, Castelloti, Musso, Ascari and others.
I believe that the Pope intervened at one point, possibly the MM tragedy.Also Ferrari moved away somewhat from hiring young Italians.
I'm left to wonder why the Monza tragedy was somewhat downplayed, or is that just a false reading?