The first of three 1949 Buenos Aires Grand Prix (official name: III Gran Premio del General Juan Perón y de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires) was a Grand Prix motor race that took place on January 30, 1949, at the Palermo street circuit in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The event was marred by the death of popular French driver Jean-Pierre Wimille. He was driving his first flying lap during practice, when his car swerved to avoid children crossing the track, and slammed into a tree. He died instantly of massive head injuries. During the race, local driver Pablo Pessatti was also killed when his car overturned, and he was thrown out.
Classification PosDriverConstructorLapsTime/Retired 1 Alberto Ascari Maserati 4CLT 35 1:30:23.1 2 Luigi Villoresi Maserati 4CLT 35 +41.0 3 Óscar Alfredo Gálvez Alfa Romeo 308 35 +2:31.9 4 Juan Manuel Fangio Maserati 4CLT 34 +1 Lap 5 Prince Bira Maserati 4CLT 31 +4 Laps 6 Victorio Rosa Maserati 4CLT 29 +6 Laps 7 Adriano Malusardi Maserati 4CLT 25 +10 Laps 8 Benedicto Campos Maserati 4CL Ret Nino Farina Maserati 4CL Ret Reg Parnell Maserati 4CL 4 Engine Ret Ernesto Tornquist Maserati 4CL 4 Engine Ret Pascual Puopolo Maserati 8CL 4 Engine Ret Ernesto Tornquist Maserati 4CL 4 Engine Ret Pablo Pessatti Alfa Romeo Fatal accident DNS Jean-Pierre Wimille Simca-Gordini 0 Fatal accident DNS Amédée Gordini Simca-Gordini 0 Source:
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