ASIA – Race 1 – Grosjean wins… as usual
Romain Grosjean secured another victory this Friday during the first race in Dubai in GP2 ASIA. The ART Grand Prix driver, crowned since Bahrain last week, took advantage of a mistake by Bruno Senna’s team, despite being 17 seconds ahead of the Frenchman at mid-race, to win the penultimate race of the Asian season. Bruno […]
Romain Grosjean secured another victory this Friday during the first race in Dubai in GP2 ASIA. The ART Grand Prix driver, crowned since Bahrain last week, took advantage of a mistake by Bruno Senna’s team, despite being 17 seconds ahead of the Frenchman at mid-race, to win the penultimate race of the Asian season.
Bruno Senna indeed took the advantage over Grosjean at the start before gaining nearly a second per lap over the Frenchman. Upon reaching the 16th lap for his first pit stop, the Brazilian had his tires changed… at least, one of them. Only the rear right, and that was not his intention…
In the confusion and not knowing which tire to change, the young driver lost over 20 seconds during his first pit stop, dropping out of the points to 9th place, and most importantly, missing the pole position for the second race (secured by the 8th place due to the reverse grid) by just 134 milliseconds.
The Brazilian has also lost all chances of performing well in the championship. He will no longer be able to reclaim second place.
« I’ve never had the chance to win in this Asian championship, Senna sighs at the finish. « In fact, I only wanted to change my front left.. »
Grosjean, after the second pit stop, was only second, behind Buemi. The Frenchman attempted a spectacular overtaking maneuver on the Trust Arden driver, Buemi, who was in the lead. The two men made slight contact: “It’s not my fault if some people aren’t doing their job properly,” exclaimed Grosjean.
Buemi, on his side, had plenty of problems following the collision but still finished on the podium alongside his teammate, Buurman.
Petrov and Yoshimoto complete the top 5 after a rather confusing finish, with the checkered flag waved only one lap after the actual end of the race. Noteworthy are the retirements of Chandhock and Valles, among others.
Finally, it was Bruno Senna who set the fastest lap in the race. The iSport driver thus scores his only point.
Race 1 Result – Dubai
