The Autódromo José Carlos Pace (also known as the Interlagos Circuit) is a motor racing circuit in Brazil. The circuit is located approximately twelve kilometres outside of São Paulo's city centre in the Parelheiros district. The area is also called Interlagos after the race track.
Started in 1938 as an urban development project, the Interlagos race circuit was opened on 12 May 1940. In the first few years, however, motorbike and car races were held rather sporadically. From the 1950s onwards, Interlagos experienced its first heyday. In 1951, the first 24-hour endurance race was held. In January 1952, the "Grand Prix of the City of São Paulo" took place, won by Juan Manuel Fangio in a Ferrari 166. A few years later, Wilson Fittipaldi senior, father of Emerson Fittipaldi and Wilson Fittipaldi junior, and Eloy Gagliano then organised a thousand-mile race in the form of the Milhas Brasileiras, which subsequently became a permanent fixture on the Brazilian racing calendar. However, the military coup in 1964 hit Brazilian motor racing hard; only a few races were subsequently held.