BOLOGNA, Italy -- An Italian auto racing magazine Tuesday published the judges' explanation of an October, 1981, verdict which blamed now-retired British Formula One driver James Hunt for the crash which killed Swedish driver Ronnie Peterson during the 1978 Italian Grand Prix.
Autosprint magazine published the text of the explanation, which was finally made public two years after Milan judges cleared Italian driver Riccardo Patrese and Monza autodrome course director Gianni Restelli ofany blame in the incident.
The Sept. 10, 1978 pileup occurred moments after the race began as the 24 cars headed into a chicane shortly after the start.
The innocent verdict for Patrese and Restelli was announced two years ago by a Milan court. Normally, it is only a matter of weeks before the explanation is deposited in legal archives and becomes public.
'It was the behavior (of Hunt) which was exclusively the cause of the deadly accident...even though Hunt said he was trapped 'like a sandwich' between Patrese and Peterson,' the judicial explanation said.
The twice-monthly magazine also published a minute-by-minute reconstruction of the accident.
The magazine said, according to investigating judges, that Hunt didn't slow his McLaren after being passed on his right by the Arrows of Patrese, but instead headed for the center of the track, touching Peterson's Lotus.
The Swede's car, an older model Lotus 78 which he had been forced to use after crashing his model 79 during warmup laps, burst into flames. Rescuers pulled Peterson from the burning vehicle, but he died a day later in a Milan hospital.
'We know that almost all of the collisions that happen during passing occur because none of the drivers ever want to brake or slow down to allow a faster car to pass them,' Autosprint said.
Italy's major sports press also gave the story heavy play in Tuesday editions.
'But if jurisprudence is based on who brakes or who doesn't and who can be charged for an accident, what will happen to racing?,' the magazine asked.
Hunt, the 1976 Formula One World Champion, retired in June, 1979.
Patrese, who will drive next season for Italy's Alfa-Romeo team, and Restelli, had faced culpable homocide charges after the accident.
Italian driver Vittorio Brambilla, driving a March, received serious head injuries after being struck by a flying tire in the pileup.
Brambilla told Italy's Corriere dello Sport-Stadio in Tuesday's edition: 'It (the death of Peterson) was a very sad case, one that isn't worth reopening. I want to forget about everything as soon as possible.'
