GP2 - Round 2 - Monaco

[Albeckinho]

Let's get this rolling.

[META4]

Live Timing is here

http://www.gp2series.com/en/website/2009gp2series/live/

[Albeckinho]

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Grosjean Barwa Addax Team 1:21.267 17
2. Di Grassi Fat Burner Racing Engineering 1:21.452 +0.185 15
3. Filippi Super Nova Racing 1:22.159 +0.892 14
4. Petrov Barwa Addax Team 1:22.223 +0.956 13
5. Maldonado ART Grand Prix 1:22.233 +0.966 16
6. Zuber FMSI 1:22.258 +0.991 18
7. Villa Super Nova Racing 1:22.449 +1.182 17
8. Chandhok Ocean Racing Technology 1:22.492 +1.225 16
9. Clos Fat Burner Racing Engineering 1:22.748 +1.481 13
10. Parente Ocean Racing Technology 1:22.831 +1.564 15
11. D'ambrosio DAMS 1:22.998 +1.731 16
12. Perez Telmex Arden International 1:23.040 +1.773 15
13. Van Der Garde iSport International 1:23.086 +1.819 16
14. Hulkenberg ART Grand Prix 1:23.370 +2.103 18
15. Rodriguez Piquet GP 1:23.484 +2.217 16
16. Mortara Telmex Arden International 1:23.523 +2.256 16
17. Kobayashi DAMS 1:23.744 +2.477 17
18. Nunes iSport International 1:23.984 +2.717 16
19. Valerio Piquet GP 1:24.078 +2.811 15
20. Valsecchi Durango 1:24.133 +2.866 15
21. Razia FMSI 1:24.344 +3.077 18
22. Ricci DPR 1:25.861 +4.594 18
23. Panciatici Durango 1:25.929 +4.662 15
24. Herck DPR 1:26.106 +4.839 19
25. Rigon Trident Racing 1:26.169 +4.902 17
26. Teixeira Trident Racing 1:29.373 +8.106 17

Free practice.

[the sniper]

Halfway through qualifying on the live timing, Teixeira is hopelessly slow, currently lapping 11 seconds off the pace...

[Mekola]

On qualy he was 8 second off the pace...

Grosjean poleman.

[the sniper]

Pos  Driver               Team                Time       Gap
 1.  Romain Grosjean      Addax               1m19.498s
 2.  Vitaly Petrov        Addax               1m19.948s  + 0.450s
 3.  Nico Hulkenberg      ART                 1m20.053s  + 0.555s
 4.  Andreas Zuber        Fisichella          1m20.065s  + 0.567s
 5.  Lucas di Grassi      Racing Engineering  1m20.308s  + 0.810s
 6.  Alvaro Parente       Ocean               1m20.424s  + 0.926s
 7.  Jerome D'Ambrosio    DAMS                1m20.494s  + 0.996s
 8.  Luca Filippi         Super Nova          1m20.573s  + 1.075s
 9.  Alberto Valerio      Piquet              1m20.597s  + 1.099s
10.  Karun Chandhok       Ocean               1m20.608s  + 1.110s
11.  Javier Villa         Super Nova          1m20.634s  + 1.136s
12.  Sergio Perez         Arden               1m20.735s  + 1.237s
13.  Dani Clos            Racing Engineering  1m20.750s  + 1.252s
14.  Pastor Maldonado     ART                 1m20.806s  + 1.308s
15.  Giedo van der Garde  iSport              1m20.933s  + 1.435s
16.  Davide Valsecchi     Durango             1m21.072s  + 1.574s
17.  Kamui Kobayashi      DAMS                1m21.136s  + 1.638s
18.  Edoardo Mortara      Arden               1m21.204s  + 1.706s
19.  Davide Rigon         Trident             1m21.268s  + 1.770s
20.  Rolden Rodriguez     Piquet              1m21.390s  + 1.892s
21.  Diego Nunes          iSport              1m22.052s  + 2.554s
22.  Luiz Razia           Fisichella          1m22.447s  + 2.949s
23.  Giacomo Ricci        DPR                 1m22.746s  + 3.248s
24.  Michael Herck        DPR                 1m23.056s  + 3.558s
25.  Nelson Panciatici    Durango             1m23.479s  + 3.981s
26.  Ricardo Teixeira     Trident             1m25.710s  + 6.212s

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/75483

Addax are really flying! I think the positions are quite fitting for each driver, the major disappointment being Maldonado down in 14th! He must have come across traffic on his lap seeing how well the other ART did and how well he's done in the past at Monaco. It'll be interesting to see how far he gets up the order in race 1, the best he can realistically hope for is pole for the Sprint, though knowing Maldonado I think he'll hit a wall or someone else before the chequered flag comes out.

Congratulations to Teixeira, he improved to be only 6 seconds off the pace... Anyone want to bet on how long he stays out of trouble? I doubt he'll make it to the first round of pit stops.

[Bleu]

Actually Teixeira missed 107% cut so he is probably not racing at all.

[Robbe]

Good job from Hülkenberg and Zuber aswell.

For Teixeira, I really hope Al Fardan manages to bring a decent amount of cash to get his seat for the next weekend.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by the sniper

Addax are really flying! I think the positions are quite fitting for each driver, the major disappointment being Maldonado down in 14th! He must have come across traffic on his lap seeing how well the other ART did and how well he's done in the past at Monaco. It'll be interesting to see how far he gets up the order in race 1, the best he can realistically hope for is pole for the Sprint, though knowing Maldonado I think he'll hit a wall or someone else before the chequered flag comes out.

Interesting indeed! Very impressed with Barwa's pace - ominous for the rest methinks?

Maldonado may simply have had a major 'off' day? Whatever the reasons he's missed an opportunity to impress on his best circuit? His progress will make interesting viewing as you say!

Zuber's done well there, that will have given him a major confidence bost after an appalling season (and Asia season) last year. I can't help but think he'll go backwards in the race, he can't keep the pace up over a distance.

[Mistral]

I also expected more from Kobayashi. He didn't qualify well in Barcelona either, plus, if Grosjean manages to win the first race and get some points in the second race, Kobayashi's title chances will be virtually zero.

Great job by Barwa so far, it seems that they're the Brawn's of GP2.

[Spudy]

I hardly think Addax are like Brawn seeing as they are possibly the most well connected and well funded teams in GP2.

Does anyone know if there are any website showing the race live on the internet? I don't have Setanta!

[Alex K]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Maldonado may simply have had a major 'off' day? Whatever the reasons he's missed an opportunity to impress on his best circuit? His progress will make interesting viewing as you say!

Maybe he's been involved in to many procesion queues on circuit, cars slowing down on in-lap, etc.?! Happened before on easier circuits, and Monaco id tight.

[Stefvh]

Is there a livestream for the 1st race somewhere ?

FOund this http://www.justin.tv/zanf_

[chunterer]

Best check out jon down under's suggestions in the 'TV Deal' thread, can't remember but one of them definitely works - Spanish feed I think?

[Mekola]

Another one-two for Barwa Addax. Grosjean wins, Petrov 2nd... and Di Grassi 3rd just before Hulkenberg!

[Mistral]

Originally Posted by Spudy

I hardly think Addax are like Brawn seeing as they are possibly the most well connected and well funded teams in GP2.

That's not my point, i was referring about the performance of both teams on track.

Anyway, Grosjean had no problems winning the race today, despite an early pressure from Petrov. Di Grassi also did a good race, overtaking Zuber and Hülkenberg in the pits, although he was penalized and lost his well deserved 3rd place. Interesting also to note the rivalry between Grosjean and Di Grassi on the podium, they barely looked each other.

[chunterer]

Man oh man, I completely missed the fact that the first race was TODAY!!!

Aaarghhgghghghgh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway.......

Was there a feed on poplar or justin? Gotta make sure I don't miss tomorrow's.

From what i've read a certain driver who many expected to do rather well (but didn't in qualy at least) has ended up with pole for tomorrow's race after about half the field got penalised 25 seconds for cutting chicanes or something, is that right??!!!!

[runshaw]

Originally Posted by chunterer

From what i've read a certain driver who many expected to do rather well (but didn't in qualy at least) has ended up with pole for tomorrow's race after about half the field got penalised 25 seconds for cutting chicanes or something, is that right??!!!!

Yeah, 8 drivers given penalties which allows Maldonado to start from pole! What a headache for Javier Villa, he probably thought he was in with a chance of taking his first victory since 2007! Andi Zuber is promoted to 3rd after di Grassi got a penalty, so he now ends up 4th.

[the sniper]

Before penalties:

Originally Posted by Autosport.com

Pos  Driver               Team                Time
 1.  Romain Grosjean      Addax               1h03m06.299s
 2.  Vitaly Petrov        Addax                +    6.600s
 3.  Lucas Di Grassi      Racing Engineering   +   22.984s
 4.  Nico Hulkenberg      ART                  +   24.443s
 5.  Andreas Zuber        Fisichella           +   31.040s
 6.  Jerome D'Ambrosio    DAMS                 +   59.777s
 7.  Karun Chandhok       Ocean                + 1m01.789s
 8.  Javier Villa         Super Nova           + 1m10.089s
 9.  Roldan Rodriguez     Piquet               + 1m11.546s
10.  Pastor Maldonado     ART                  + 1m20.236s
11.  Davide Rigon         Trident              + 1m21.248s
12.  Sergio Perez         Arden                +     1 lap
13.  Luiz Razia           Fisichella           +     1 lap
14.  Giacomo Ricci        DPR                  +     1 lap
15.  Davide Valsecchi     Durango              +    2 laps
16.  Michael Herck        DPR                  +    2 laps

Not classified/Retirements:

     Giedo van der Garde  iSport              38 laps
     Alvaro Parente       Ocean               36 laps
     Edoardo Mortara      Arden               35 laps
     Luca Filippi         Super Nova          34 laps
     Kamui Kobayashi      DAMS                18 laps
     Daniel Clos          Racing Engineering  16 laps
     Diego Nunes          iSport              13 laps
     Alberto Valerio      Piquet               5 laps
     Nelson Panciatici    Durango              4 laps

Result after penalties for skipping the first corner (Red = dropped position(s), Green = Picked up position(s)):

1. Romain Grosjean
2. Vitaly Petrov
3. Andreas Zuber
4. Lucas Di Grassi
5. Nico Hulkenberg
6. Jerome D'Ambrosio
7. Karun Chandhok
8. Pastor Maldonado
9. Davide Rigon
10. Javier Villa
11. Roldan Rodriguez
12. Sergio Perez
13. Luiz Razia
14. Giacomo Ricci
15. Davide Valsecchi
16. Michael Herck

Lucky Maldonado!

On today's race, I was disappointed to see Parente go out of 8th. Was also a shame to see Filippi crash out after another decent drive, does anyone remember what position he was in when he span?

EDIT: Just read on the official GP2 blog that the FMS cars were blessed by a priest before the race, I suppose divine intervention explains all this!

http://blog.gp2series.doctissimo.fr/...e-intervention

[chunterer]

Grosjean put 28 seconds on the 'rest', that's staggering.....

[runshaw]

Originally Posted by the sniper

EDIT: Just read on the official GP2 blog that the FMS cars were blessed by a priest before the race, I suppose divine intervention explains all this!

http://blog.gp2series.doctissimo.fr/...e-intervention

Andi Zuber should be blessed more often then, he didn't crash

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by runshaw

Andi Zuber should be blessed more often then, he didn't crash

Based on his Asia form that's spot on I reckon!!!

[chunterer]

Just got back in and picked up the Justintv feed for race 2.

Dunno what happened at the start but Chandhok leads at half way with Maldonado 2nd and D'Ambrosio 3rd.

I got the impression Pastor had fluffed his start and had already overtaken people even to get to 2nd position? Might have that wrong though!

[chunterer]

Ooh Chandhok out on lap 21, mechanical problem.

Maldonado leads and now it's an SC!!

[chunterer]

Maldonado blitzed the restart with D'ambrosio a bit dopey.

jEEZ MASSIVE SHUNT FOR GROSJEAN...... tried a move on Zuber on the inside into the left hander going into the harbour area and launched it over the barrier on the outside!

He's out of the car though and ok.