There has only been one year since 1950 when the Italian Grand Prix was not run in Monza. That was 1980 when it took place at Imola. Little has changed with this track over the years. It remains one of the fastest tracks, even with the introduction of chicanes in the 1970's, and is therefore very hard on the cars.

Monza has two attributes above all that mark it out from other tracks: extremely high top speeds and a proud tradition. Nowhere else have more F1 Grands Prix been held than in this park surrounded by high walls. 2006 sees Formula One stop off here for the 56th time. Only one Italian GP has been held elsewhere, namely at Imola in 1980. In the course of its long history, the race track has been repeatedly modified. The remains of a banked curve bear witness to its early days. The city of Monza is in the province of Milan and has a population of around 120,000.