Beneath our feet lies a racing legacy. It is the Autódromo José Carlos Pace. Many know it as Interlagos. This track is more than asphalt. It is a monument to Brazilian motorsport.
The Autódromo José Carlos Pace was inaugurated on May 12 1940. Adhemar de Barros opened the track. He was the federal intervener of the São Paulo province. In 1985 the track received a new name. It honored Formula 1 driver José Carlos Pace. He tragically died in a plane crash in 1977. A kart circuit attached to the facilities bears another legendary name. It is Ayrton Senna.
This circuit runs counterclockwise. That challenges drivers in unique ways. The Autódromo José Carlos Pace is not just for racing. It hosts the Lollapalooza music festival.
The track’s story began in 1926. Property developers bought the land. They initially planned housing. The 1929 stock market crash changed those plans. Construction of the Autódromo José Carlos Pace started in 1938. Designers drew inspiration from famous tracks. These included Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Brooklands.
Interlagos means between lakes in Portuguese. The name comes from its location. It sits between two artificial lakes Guarapiranga and Billings. These lakes supplied São Paulo with water and power. French architect Alfred Agache suggested the name. He was reminded of Interlaken in Switzerland.
Formula One arrived at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in 1972. The first race was a non-championship event. Argentine Carlos Reutemann won. The first World Championship Brazilian Grand Prix happened in 1973. Emerson Fittipaldi won. He was the defending champion and a São Paulo native. José Carlos Pace secured his only win here in 1975.
Safety concerns led to changes. The original 4.946-mile layout was bumpy. Barriers were inadequate. Deep ditches and embankments posed dangers. The last Formula One race on the original circuit was in 1980. Formula One moved to Jacarepaguá in Rio de Janeiro.
In 1990 Formula One returned to a modified Autódromo José Carlos Pace. The track had been shortened. This cost 15 million dollars. The layout has remained mostly the same since 1990.
The Autódromo José Carlos Pace often sees dramatic Formula One races. Especially since it became an end-of-season venue in 2004. Fernando Alonso clinched his world titles here in 2005 and 2006. Kimi Räikkönen won the 2007 championship. He overcame a seven-point deficit. Felipe Massa nearly won in 2008. But Lewis Hamilton’s late pass secured him the title.
One key feature of the Autódromo José Carlos Pace is its hilly terrain. It demands power from engines. The counterclockwise direction adds physical strain. Drivers’ necks endure strong centrifugal forces. Weather is also a factor. Rapid changes and rain are common. This unpredictability is part of the circuit’s character. São Paulo is nicknamed Land of the Drizzle.
Major repairs took place in 2007. The asphalt was replaced. The pit lane entrance was improved. A new grandstand was added.
In 2012 plans emerged for a new pit building. The start line would move. Later, they decided to keep the start/finish straight where it was. Interlagos has one of the longest pit lanes in Formula One. It starts before the start-finish straight. It rejoins the track after Curva do Sol.
The track includes iconic turns. S do Senna. Curva do Sol. Descida do Lago. Ferradura. Laranjinha. Pinheirinho. Bico de Pato. Mergulho. Junção. Café. Subida dos Boxes. Arquibancadas.
The Autódromo José Carlos Pace stands as a testament to motorsport history. It is a challenging circuit. It is full of dramatic moments. It embodies the spirit of Brazilian racing.