The Ferrari 326 MI, also known as the 296 MI, was a one-off built by Ferrari in 1958 for the second running of the 500 Miles of Monza, the "Race of Two Worlds." It was intended to compete against American race cars on a banked oval. It was based on a modified 246 F1 chassis with a Dino V6 enlarged to 3.2 liters; "MI" stands for "Monza-Indianapolis." Phil Hill drove it in its only race. Like the Americans, Ferrari relied on Firestone tires.
Summarized from the sources cited below; every figure in the text was automatically verified against the sources.
Learn moreThe Race of Two Worlds · Engine and chassis · Hill's only outing
The Race of Two Worlds
The race was held only twice, in 1957 and 1958. European and American racing and sports cars were to compete against each other on an Indianapolis-style oval with dedicated banking. Ferrari arrived in 1958 with three cars built to IndyCar regulations; two of them, the 326 MI and the 412 MI, were created specifically for it. Regarding tire manufacturers, they followed the Americans and chose Firestone, despite having an existing contract with Belgian manufacturer Englebert, whose tires were not up to the high-speed circuit.
Engine and chassis
The Dino V6 with a 65-degree bank angle was mounted longitudinally in the front of the car. With an 87 mm bore and 90 mm stroke, it reached 3210 cm³; with a 10:1 compression ratio, it produced 330 PS at 7250 rpm. Two valves per cylinder, three Weber 50DCN carburetors, and a dry sump were included; the racing transmission had only three gears. The tubular frame was derived from the 246 F1, with double wishbones at the front and a De Dion tube with two trailing arms at the rear. Braking was handled by drums, and the fuel tank held 166 liters.
Hill's only outing
Car number 14 was significantly underpowered and could not keep up with the leaders. Hill started from fourteenth position. In the first heat, he had to retire after only eleven laps due to ignition issues; a broken magneto ended the sole race of the 326 MI. After that, Hill assisted the other Ferrari team with the 412 MI and relieved both drivers across the two remaining heats; the team finished third overall.
Summarized from the cited sources; every figure was automatically verified against the sources.
Frequently asked questions about the Ferrari 326 MI
When was the Ferrari 326 MI raced?
The Ferrari 326 MI was raced in 1958.
How much power does the Ferrari 326 MI have?
Power of the Ferrari 326 MI: 330 PS.
What engine does the Ferrari 326 MI have?
Engine of the Ferrari 326 MI: 3210 cm³ 65° V6 naturally aspirated Dino engine. It is mounted at the front.
How many Ferrari 326 MI were built?
The Ferrari 326 MI is a one-off.
Who engineered the Ferrari 326 MI?
Engineering of the Ferrari 326 MI: Carlo Chiti; Vittorio Jano.
Who drove the Ferrari 326 MI?
Drivers of the Ferrari 326 MI: Phil Hill.
How many races did the Ferrari 326 MI win?
The Ferrari 326 MI took 0 wins in 1 races.