STORY OF THE DAY: Fisichella’s First Race in Red

Giancarlo Fisichella finished ninth in the 2009 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, driving the number 3 Ferrari F60. It was his first race for Ferrari after being recruited to replace the injured Felipe Massa. Rubens Barrichello won the World Championship round for Brawn ahead of Jenson Button and Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen.

Fisichella arrived after taking pole and finishing second for Force India at Spa, leaving him little time to become familiar with the Ferrari. Starting fourteenth, he completed a measured recovery but finished one position outside the points under the scoring system then in use. The occasion nevertheless fulfilled the Roman driver’s long-held ambition to race for Ferrari at its home Grand Prix.

The F60 was Ferrari’s response to the sweeping aerodynamic regulations introduced for 2009, with simplified bodywork, a wider front wing and a narrower rear wing. Its 2.4-litre Tipo 056 V8 was supplemented by a Kinetic Energy Recovery System, although the car proved less consistently competitive than Ferrari’s recent predecessors.

Born in Rome, Fisichella built his career through karting and Italian Formula Three before entering Formula One in 1996. He won Grands Prix with Jordan and Renault and helped Renault secure two Constructors’ Championships. His late-season Ferrari appointment gave an experienced Italian driver the rare opportunity to represent the Scuderia at Monza.