Wednesday, June 30, 2010

F1-European GP, Valencia

Sebastian Vettel secured the first place in an incident strewn European GP held in Spain. The McLaren duo, Hamilton and Button came in 2nd and 3rd respectively.

June 27, 2010 - The podium (L to R): Lewis Hamilton (GBR) McLaren, second; Sebastian Vettel (GER) Red Bull Racing, race winner; Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren, third...Formula One World Championship, Rd 9, European Grand Prix, Race, Valencia Spain, Sunday 27 June 2010.


Midway through the race, there was a devastating crash involving the Red Bull of Mark Webber and Heikki Kovalainen of Lotus. Heikki, decided to block Webber from overtaking but he did it in a strange manner, according to Webber who could not stop his car from smacking the back of the Lotus. The crash sent Webber's car to eject up into the air before somersaulting and landing on the roof. The car skidded a while righting itself up again before crashing heavily to the tire barrier. It was a sickening crash. Fortunately, Webber was able to walk away from the crash with only minor bumps on him.

After this incident, the safety car was brought in. Hamilton was astride the safety car when it came into the track and decided to test his luck and sped away instead of following the back of the safety car. Hamilton was in 2nd place after the safety car period was over.

VALENCIA, SPAIN - JUNE 27: Safety car comes out during the European Formula One Grand Prix at the Valencia Street Circuit on July 27, 2010, in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by Andrew Hone/Getty Images)


Hamilton's luck didn't hold since he was deemed by the stewards to be slightly behind the safety car when it came out and should have followed it. So a penalty was given to him. Amazingly, he was back in second place after the he took the drive through penalty due to a combination of a short pit area and the third placed driver being slow and holding up traffic behind him.

This made ex-world champion Ferrari's Fernando Alonso mad with anger. He can be heard whining in the cockpit radio about the unfairness of it all. He was just behind Hamilton when the safety car came out but ended up in 9th place when it went back in. And to add salt to his bruised self, two slower cars overtook him in the later stages of the race despite pleas from his team to concentrate on racing.

Sometimes luck do play a part and one should just take it in the chin and concentrate on the next race. But not Ferrari or Fernando. They are bringing up conspiracy theories that claims stewards are favoring Hamilton in some manner. It doesn't help either that Lewis seems to end up in headlines concerning rules and guidelines of F1 - e.g. racing in pitlane and the dramatic out-of-fuel qualification in the last race - so drivers may get frustrated with the all the non-race attention he gets.

But the bottom line is, Lewis seems to be the only driver who consistently spices up the F1 races. His overtaking moves, his glamorous friend and his unexpected controversial situations makes the F1 an interesting and watchable fare.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Le Mans 24 hrs 2010 - Audi sweeps the podium

LE MANS, SARTHE - JUNE 13: Timo Bernhard of Germany drives the  Audi Sport North America to victory and celebrates with his team members after winning the 78th running of the Le Mans 24 hours race at the Circuits des 24 Heures du Mans on June 13, 2010 in Le Mans, France. (Photo by Darrell Ingham/Getty Images)


Despite last years winner, Peugeot, dominating the qualifying for the race with their immense speed advantage, Audi emerged total winners of this years Le Mans 24 hrs race.

Audi bet their reliability and team discipline will win the race for them and that's what happened. Still, the complete podium sweep was totally unexpected and the Audi team was justly ecstatic with their win this year.

June 14, 2010 - 06032039 date 13 06 2010 Copyright imago Panoramic Cars 24 heures You Mans 2010 Podium team Audi 8 9 7 FEP Panoramic PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRAxITAxBEL motor aviation Le Mans Series 24 24 H Hours Race Hours Race Long distance Long-distance races Victory Award Ceremony Highlight Vdig xmk 2010 horizontal premiumd.



All the four Peugeot cars did not finish due to various problems.

A mechanic pushes in the pit the Peugeot 908 HDI FAP number 1 after driver Alexander Wurz of Austria abandoned the race during the Le Mans 24 Hour sportscar race in Le Mans, central France, June 13, 2010. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau (FRANCE - Tags: SPORT MOTOR RACING)


In the GT2 class, the Porsche of Felbermayr-Proton team took the first place from Ferrari.
Atmosphere during the 78th running of the Le Mans 24 hours race at the Circuits des 24 Heures du Mans in Le Mans, France on June 13, 2010. Photo by Eric Fabre/V-Images/Cameleon/ABACAPRESS.COM Photo via Newscom

McLaren 1-2 in Canada!!

Amazing feat by the McLaren team, they have managed two consecutive 1-2 finish, this time in Canada. The third place went to a much improved Ferrari driven by Fernando Alonso.

June 14, 2010 - 06031783 date 13 06 2010 Copyright imago Thomas Melzer Podium Formula 1 GP Canada in Montrial 13 06 10 motor aviation men Formula 1 F1 F World Cup GP Canada Montreal Award Ceremony Vdig 2010 horizontal premiumd Formula 1 Formula UN F1 motor aviation Racing Grid Girls Formula One Racing.



Lewis Hamilton started from pole for McLaren but the lead changed hands when drivers had to pit to change their tyres. The Canadian Grand Prix was very demanding and many of them had to change tyres at least twice.

June 13, 2010 - Montreal, Canada - Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes GP MGP W01 makes a pit stop...Formula One World Championship, Rd 8, Canadian Grand Prix, Race Day.



Hamilton was in his element again, overtaking Fernando Alonso after Lewis lost his
lead in the pits and then overtaking the race leader Mark Webber later.

June 13, 2010 - Montreal, Canada - Lewis Hamilton (GBR) McLaren MP4/25...Formula One World Championship, Rd 8, Canadian Grand Prix, Race Day.



Schumacher had a good start, gaining five places after the first corner but raced too aggressively causing him to lose to lose his place. He eventually finished outside the points in 11th.

Jenson Button the second McLaren driver had a quieter day and managed to overtake Fernando Alonso later in the race to finish 2nd.

Overall a fantastic result for McLaren. Their team drivers are leading the Driver's points and Constructors points at this stage of the race season.

June 14, 2010 - 06031712 date 13 06 2010 Copyright imago HochZwei Motorsports Formula 1 World Championship 2010 GP of Canada 01 Jenson Button GBR Vodafone McLaren Mercedes 02 Lewis Hamilton GBR Vodafone McLaren Mercedes xHOCHxZWEIx motor aviation men Formula 1 F1 F World Cup GP Canada Montreal Award Ceremony Vdig 2010 horizontal Highlight premiumd motor aviation Engine Formula 1 Formula One F1 F 1 one Grand Prix grand Prize Winner Champion happiness Joy cheering Celebration Mood mood Award Ceremony Podium Medal Ceremony Ceremony Honour Human Beings cheering jubilant Celebrates pleased rejoicing positive Winner won.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

McLaren 1-2 in Turkey!

Sports News - May 30, 2010


McLaren achieved another 1-2 finish in this year's Formula 1 season. They were fortunate because of an amazing incident involving the 2 leading red bull cars. Their cars collided when Vettel tried to overtake Mark Webber.

Sports News - May 30, 2010


After that incident McLaren was gifted the first two places in the race with Mark Webber managing to replace his broken front wing in a pit stop and then coming out ahead of 4th placed Michael Schumacher.

McLaren's Jenson Button then attempted to take over the 1st place from his team mate Lewis Hamilton but the surprised Hamilton managed to get it back in the next corner.

After the race, there were no expression of joy or ecstasy of winning by Hamilton, and he preferred to speak to the third placed Mark Webber instead of button in the winners waiting room. The driver rivalries of both leading teams should juice up the F1 race this year.