Minardi

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Minardi

Full name	Minardi F1 Team
Base	Faenza, Italy
Founder(s)	Giancarlo Minardi
Noted staff	Gustav Brunner, Paul Stoddart
Noted drivers	Pierluigi Martini Marc Gené Luca Badoer Christian Fittipaldi Michele Alboreto Mark Webber Jos Verstappen Fernando Alonso Justin Wilson Giancarlo Fisichella Jarno Trulli
Next name	Scuderia Toro Rosso
Formula One World Championship career
First entry	1985 Brazilian Grand Prix
Races entered	346 entries (340 starts)
Engines	Motori Moderni, Ford, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Hart, Fondmetal, European, Asiatech, Cosworth
Constructors' Championships	0 (best finish: 7th, 1991)
Drivers' Championships	0
Race victories	0 (best finish: 4th, 1991 San Marino Grand Prix, 1991 Portuguese Grand Prix and 1993 South African Grand Prix)
Points	38
Pole positions	0 (best grid position: 2nd, 1990 United States Grand Prix)
Fastest laps	0
Final entry	2005 Chinese Grand Prix

Minardi was an Italian automobile racing team and constructor founded in Faenza in 1979 by Giancarlo Minardi. It competed in the Formula One World Championship from 1985 until 2005 with little success, nevertheless acquiring a loyal following of fans. In 2001, to save the team from folding, Minardi sold it to Australian businessman Paul Stoddart, who ran the team for five years before selling it on to Red Bull GmbH in 2005 who renamed it Scuderia Toro Rosso.^[1] Initially called "M" (short for Minardi) then a number, from 2001, all of Minardi chassis were called "PS", the PS being the initials of team owner, Paul Stoddart.

During its time in F1, the team scored a total of 38 championship points; 16 of these were earned by the team's first driver, Pierluigi Martini. Martini also recorded the team's only front row start, qualifying 2nd at the 1990 United States Grand Prix, and he led a lap during the 1989 Portuguese Grand Prix, the only time a Minardi led a lap. The team never achieved a podium finish, only managing three 4th-place finishes: Martini twice in 1991 and Christian Fittipaldi in 1993.

In the 21 seasons, Minardi entered 37 drivers. Thirteen had Italian nationality (nine of whom raced during the time the team was owned by Giancarlo Minardi), the others came with 13 different nationalities (discounting Doornbos racing under a Monaco license in 2005). Martini holds the record for more starts with the team with 103 Grands Prix, followed by Gianni Morbidelli and Marc Gené with 33 starts.

Before Minardi's demise, the team was particularly well-liked within Formula One circles for its friendliness, accessibility, and lack of corporate culture.^[2][3] On the track, their cars were regarded by many as well-designed for their tiny budget, their low position recognised as a result of a lack of funds (and engine power) rather than a poor car.^[4] They also resisted employing pay-drivers more than most other financially constrained teams. Former Minardi drivers include double World Champion Fernando Alonso, Grand Prix winners Alessandro Nannini, Giancarlo Fisichella, Jarno Trulli and Mark Webber; CART IndyCar World Series double champion Alessandro Zanardi and race winners Justin Wilson and Christian Fittipaldi; and 24 Hours of Le Mans overall winners Michele Alboreto, Pierluigi Martini, and Marc Gené.