Ronnie Peterson is still lying o the track, despite the fact that a long time has passed since the accident. The end of Monza's start- and finishstraight looks like warscene. Ronnie is fully conscious and not the on judged to most seriously injured. Instead it's Brambilla who sits uncontious in his car. His helmet has been cracked from flying debris.

An official is seen trying to rip the helmet off Ronnie, despite that the chinstrap hasn't been opened. He yanks Ronnies head. Finally, after opening the strap, the helmet comes off.

After what seems like an eternity, an ambulance that can take Ronnie to a waiting helicopter, finally arrives.  There seems to be some confusion over how long time it really took for one of the seven ambulances at Monza to arrive. (According to the magazine "Modern Motor" 1978, it is up to 18). Few disagree that the medical readyness was bad.

Professor Sid Watkins had since the middle of 1978 been hired by the drivers as a consulting GP-surtgeon. Normally he worked as a neurosurgeon at a hospital in London, which he had done since the early -70s. In his book "Life at the Limit - Triumph and Tragedy in Formula 1" he gives his view on what really happened at Monza 1978. At the start he was very close to the race control tower. Immediately after the accident he tries to get to the scene of the accident, but is prevented from getting there by police and carabinieri, since he doesn't work directly for the racetrack. The guards have formed tight lines along the track and stop everyone trying to get to the accident. Peter Briggs from team Surtees is hit in the back of his head with a baton when he tries to find out more about his driver Vittorio Brambillas condition. Others are hit with riflestocks. One of the Italian officials tries to explain the situation in order to help Sid get to Ronnie and Vittorio, but without any success.

Ronnie raises his arm and many see this as proof that he is alright. Many spectators have managed to get through to the track and try to touch Ronnie when he is carried into the ambulance. 

One man shakes his head - James Hunt. A policeman asking for his autograph is brusquely pussed aside, and Hunt walks back to the pit. He bumps into professor Watkins and explains hat Ronnie is Hurt, but that an ambulance and a doctor have arrived. Professor Watkins then decides to get to the medical centre, a 3-4 minutes walk from Race Control through the pit area. He runs there and arrives at the same time as the ambulance with Ronnie.

Immediately after the the injured drivers have been removed, the track is cleaned from debris, cars, oil etc.

At Monza's medical center ther is total chaos. Officials, photographers and spectators gather around Ronnie. Only after a while the medical team of six doctors get the peace to start their work. Ronnie is consious during the whole time. Professor Sid Watkins is present when Ronnie is given drip. The immediate injuries are obvious - both legs more or less crushed, chest and shoulders superficially burned.

Together with all the other debris, Ronnies car is quickly transported from the site of the crash. After the race Colin Chapman sees to that all the Lotus cars are transported out of the country. He has earlier experience from Italian authorities and doesn't want to risk to have the cars impounded during long investigations. The Lotus 78/3 was written off after the crash, but a new was made from spare parts. Not until 2003 Clive Chapman destroyed the last parts to stop souvenircollectors.

Rex Hart of Team Lotus:

"We got his gloves and helmet back after they had taken him to the hospital, and there was practically no burns on them."

Even Ronnies old mechanic Åke Strandberg (now working for McLaren),got to the medical centre:

"He still had his overall on and you could see that one leg was hurt. He told me had great pains and those were the last word he said to me." 

Still Ronnies prognosis is promising. Drip is atached to his riht arm and his bloodpressure is surprisingly normal. He gets several intraveinal infusions. The medical team start to splint his leg injuries which appear complicated. 

At this point several persons have entered the medical centre. Among others a paparazzi-photographer trying to take pictures through Sid Watkins' legs is kicked away by the professor and tries to kick him back in the "short and curlies."

"Ronnie spoke clearly. He was very anxious thet I would come to the hostpital as quick as I could, which I promised. - Please don't leave me, Prof! He said"

Ronnie is rolled out on the stretcher to the waiting helicopter. People try to touch Ronnie as he were a holy relic. Emerson Fittipaldis personal doctor, Rafael Grazales-Robles, also has joined at the medical centre. Professor Watkins asks him if he can go with Ronnie in the helicopter, but just like Sid he feels obligated to stay at Monza since a restart is planned. When the helicopter is to embark Team Lotus' mangar Colin Chapman arrives and is informed on Ronnie's odds and to which Hospital they are bringing him.

Then the helicopter starts and makes the ten minutes flight to Ospedale Maggiore in Niguarda just outside Milano. Riding with Ronnie in the helicopter is omong others Loris Kessel, an ex co driver. He tells us that it is Ronnie who breaks the silence:

"How serious are my injuries down there? It hurts terribly."

Ronnie saw the burns on his left hand and arm, but his comments focused on the his right foot and leg. Kessel didn't know what to say, and told him they were on his way to the hospital in Milano and that they would soon be there. 

"When we carried Ronnie into the hospital he was still contious and complained about severe pains. I promised him he would be sedated and then he just blinked and said - OK!"