1972 Brazilian Grand Prix

The 1972 Brazilian Grand Prix was the dress rehearsal for a full championship race in . It was held on March 30, the Thursday before Good Friday, and was a work day in Brazil. Regardless, a crowd of more than 100,000 showed up to watch 11 cars take the green flag. The race was won by Carlos Reutemann, from nearby Argentina and driving a . He was followed by Ronnie Peterson in a and one of the local favorites, Wilson Fittipaldi in another Brabham. Despite some organizational glitches, the race was approved to join the calendar for the following season.
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==Background==
==Entry list==
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No.	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor	Chassis	Engine	Model 	Tyre
1 	Emerson Fittipaldi 	John Player Team Lotus 	 	72D 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
2 	Dave Walker 	John Player Team Lotus 	 	72D 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
3 	Jacky Ickx 	Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 	 	312B2 	 	001/1 3.0 F12	
4 	Clay Regazzoni 	Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 	 	312B2 	 	001/1 3.0 F12	
5 	Henri Pescarolo 	Team Williams Motul 	 	721 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
6 	Carlos Pace 	Team Williams Motul 	 	711 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
7 	Reine Wisell 	Team Surtees 	 	TS9B 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
8 	Carlos Reutemann 	Motor Racing Developments Ltd. 	 	BT34 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
9 	Wilson Fittipaldi 	Motor Racing Developments Ltd. 	 	BT33 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
10 	Ronnie Peterson 	STP March Racing Team 	 	721 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
11 	Luiz Bueno 	STP March Racing Team 	 	711 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
12 	Andrea de Adamich 	Ceramica Pagnossin Team Surtees	 	TS9B 	 	DFV 3.0 V8 	
14 	Jean-Pierre Beltoise	Marlboro BRM 	 	P160B 	 	P142 3.0 V12 	
15 	Peter Gethin 	Marlboro BRM 	 	P160B 	 	P142 3.0 V12 	
16 	Howden Ganley 	Marlboro BRM 	 	P160B 	 	P142 3.0 V12 	
17 	Helmut Marko 	Austria Marlboro BRM 	 	P160B 	 	P142 3.0 V12 	
18 	Alex Soler-Roig 	España Marlboro BRM 	 	P153 	 	P142 3.0 V12 	
==Practice Overview ==
==Qualifying==
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos.	No.	Driver 	Constructor	Time 	Gap
1 	1 	Emerson Fittipaldi 	 	2:32.4 	—
2 	8 	Carlos Reutemann 	 	2:34.4 	+2.0s
3 	10 	Ronnie Peterson 	 	2:34.6 	+2.2s
4 	9 	Wilson Fittipaldi 	 	2:36.3 	+3.9s
5 	2 	Dave Walker 	 	2:37.7 	+5.3s
6* 	14 	Jean-Pierre Beltoise	 	2:37.8 	+5.4s
7 	6 	Carlos Pace 	 	2:39.4 	+7.0s
8 	5 	Henri Pescarolo 	 	2:40.0 	+7.6s
9 	15 	Peter Gethin 	 	2:41.0 	+8.6s
10 	11 	Luiz Bueno 	 	2:41.6 	+9.2s
11 	17 	Helmut Marko 	 	2:46.4 	+14.0s
12 	18 	Alex Soler-Roig 	 	2:51.5 	+19.1s
WD 	3 	Jacky Ickx 	 	Withdrawn	Withdrawn
WD 	4 	Clay Regazzoni 	 	Withdrawn	Withdrawn
WD 	7 	Reine Wisell 	 	Withdrawn	Withdrawn
WD 	12 	Andrea de Adamich 	 	Withdrawn	Withdrawn
WD 	16 	Howden Ganley 	 	Withdrawn	Withdrawn
** Beltoise could not start due to ignition failure.
===Grid===
** Beltoise could not start due to ignition failure.
==Race==
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos.	No.	Driver 	Constructor	Laps	Time/Retired	Grid
1 	8 	Carlos Reutemann 	 	37 	1:37:16.248 	2
2 	10 	Ronnie Peterson 	 	37 	+1:27.656s 	3
3 	9 	Wilson Fittipaldi 	 	37 	+2:03.379s 	4
4 	17 	Helmut Marko 	 	36 	+1 lap 	11
5 	2 	Dave Walker 	 	36 	+1 lap 	5
6 	11 	Luiz Bueno 	 	35 	+2 laps 	10
Ret 	1 	Emerson Fittipaldi 	 	32 	Suspension 	1
Ret 	18 	Alex Soler-Roig 	 	11 	Electrics 	12
Ret 	6 	Carlos Pace 	 	0 	Throttle 	7
Ret 	5 	Henri Pescarolo 	 	0 	Throttle 	8
Ret 	15 	Peter Gethin 	 	0 	Throttle 	9
DNS 	14 	Jean-Pierre Beltoise	 	 	 	
WD 	3 	Jacky Ickx 	 	 	 	
WD 	4 	Clay Regazzoni 	 	 	 	
WD 	7 	Reine Wisell 	 	 	 	
WD 	12 	Andrea de Adamich 	 	 	 	
WD 	16 	Howden Ganley 	 	 	 	
==Milestones==
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:Non-Championship races
Category:1972 Non-championship races
Category:Brazilian Grand Prix
Category:Formula One races in Brazil