Conversation so far:
When did Niki Lauda first retire?
It suffered from a variety of troubles that forced Lauda to retire the car 9 out of 14 races.
Which series of races or tournament was he competing when this happened?
Brabham-Alfa Romeo in 1978 for a $1 million salary, Lauda endured two unsuccessful seasons, notable mainly for his one race in the Brabham BT46B.
What type of vehicle did he drive during that race?
Brabham BT46B, a radical design known as the Fan Car.
What was his racing record like during this time?
Lauda's best results, apart from the wins in Sweden and Italy after the penalization of Mario Andretti and Gilles Villeneuve, were 2nd in Montreal and Great Britain.
How long did he stay in retirement?
CANNOTANSWER.
Are there any other interesting aspects about this article?
In September, Lauda finished 4th in Monza, and won the non-WC Imola event, still with the Alfa V12 engine.

Question: Which year was this particular event, 78 or 79?
Self-contained rewrite: Which year was Imola event, 78 or 79?