Date 10 September 1995 | Course length 5.770 km (3.585 mi) | |
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Official name LXVI Pioneer Gran Premio d'Italia Location Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza, Italy Course Permanent racing facility Distance 53 laps, 305.810 km (190.022 mi) | ||
The 1995 Italian Grand Prix (formally the LXVI Pioneer Gran Premio d'Italia) was a Formula One motor race held on 10 September 1995 at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza, Italy. It was the twelfth race of the 1995 Formula One season. The 53 lap race was won by Johnny Herbert for the Benetton team after starting from eighth position. Mika Häkkinen was second in a McLaren, with Heinz-Harald Frentzen third for Sauber.
Pole-sitter David Coulthard spun off on the warm up lap, and initially retired from the race. However, when the race was stopped after a second lap collision (on dust he had dragged onto the corner when attempting to rejoin) he was able to start the race on pole again (in a spare car set up for Damon Hill).
Hill and Michael Schumacher had their second major collision of the season; the previous one having happened at the British Grand Prix. As Hill attempted to lap Taki Inoue's Footwork, Hill crashed into the back of Schumacher when braking for the second chicane, causing both to retire. Schumacher ran over to the Williams to confront Hill whilst the British driver sat in his cockpit, but was pulled away by stewards immediately. Schumacher later apologised to Hill when Inoue admitted the incident was his fault, as he had slid in front of Hill while being passed by Schumacher, causing Hill to take evasive action and inadvertently run into the back of Schumacher's car.
This briefly left the Ferraris running first and second. However, Gerhard Berger suffered a bizarre retirement when a TV camera on Jean Alesi's car flew off and destroyed Berger's suspension. Alesi led the race with just 7 laps to go but subsequently retired with wheel bearing trouble.
This succession of retirements handed a second victory to Johnny Herbert, and then best-ever results to Mika Häkkinen and Heinz-Harald Frentzen - first podium position for Sauber team in Formula 1. Massimiliano Papis was on course for his first points finish, until he was overtaken by Jean-Christophe Boullion on the final lap.