Targa Florio when his car failed within a few hundred yards of victory; Ascari, his mechanic, Giulio Ramponi, and some spectators pushed the car over the line but he was disqualified for receiving outside assistance. He suffered a similar fate in the French Grand Prix, then went on to Monza where he won the Italian Grand Prix, leading the race from start to finish. In 1925, the AIACR introduced the World Manufacturers' Championship. Alfa Romeo did not contest the first race, the Indianapolis 500, but instead headed to Spa-Francorchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix. Twelve drivers from four teams entered the race, but only seven turned up, from two teams: Alfa Romeo and Delage. By half way, four of the seven had retired, and by two-thirds way, only Ascari and his team-mate Giuseppe Campari remained. Ascari won the race by 21 minutes 58 seconds, with Campari having to drive twice around the circuit on his own to complete his race. Death and legacy On 26 July 1925, Ascari took part in the French Grand Prix at the Autodrome de Montlhéry, south of Paris. He was leading the race when, on lap 23, he swerved at a left handed corner and got caught in some wooden fencing, which caused his car to overturn. One of his legs was almost severed. Medical help was slow in coming, and Ascari died in the ambulance on his way to hospital. He was 36 years old. Alfa withdrew their other cars from the race, and race winners Robert Benoist and Albert Divo drove to the scene of the crash and laid their winners' garlands there. Ascari's death led to an outpouring of grief, both in France and in Italy. His body was put on display in Montlhéry, where locals filed past it. During its journey to Milan by train, flowers were laid at each stop on the carriage containing his coffin. In Milan, the coffin was displayed in the Alfa Romeo building, where throngs of people filed past. Thousands lined the route of the funeral procession to the Cimitero Monumentale, where he was buried. Ascari's son, Alberto, who was seven at the time of Antonio's death, also became a racing driver, and was two-time Formula One champion in 1952–53. He also died behind the wheel at age 36, and on the 26th of the month. References External links 1888 births 1925 deaths Sportspeople from the