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Action-packed Start to Country's First Formula One Grand Prix

  •   Sun, Oct 30 2011 03:19:52 PM

Action-packed Start to Country's First Formula One Grand Prix

Greater Noida, Oct 30 (IANS): India's inaugural Formula One race got off to a spectacular and action-packed start with world champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull starting from the pole position at the swanky Buddh International Circuit here Sunday.

Vettel made a brilliant start but third-placed Fernando Alonso of Ferrari went wide and allowed Jenson Button to get through. Button and Mark Webber then fought closely for the second place behind Vettel.

At the first corner, Williams' Rubens Barrichello's car spun off after being hit. Moments later the Team Lotus' Jarno Trulli also went wide on to the grass. It gave lot of opportunity for other drivers to move up. Seven time world champion Michael Schumacher made most of the opportunity and went to eighth place from 11th while India's Narain Karthikeyan gained seven places to 16 from 23rd.

There was excitement in the air as the race began with cricketers, Bollywood stars and celebrities making their presence felt.

Before the race, 24 drivers took part in a vintage car rallly and waved to the fans to kick off the celebrations.

Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar showed his passion for motorsports by being the first of the high-profile guests to arrive at the Circuit.

"His love for motorsport is well known and I was not surprised to see him three hours before the race time. I went to the gate to welcome him," Sameer Gaur, managing director of Jaypee Sports International, told IANS.

Tendulkar, who will do the honours of waving the chequered flag, spent a lot of time at the paddocks before going to the VIP lounge area.

His meeting with seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher was widely anticipated and that was one of the first things he did after arriving here.

Tendulkar went to the Mercedes GP team garage and chatted extensively with Schumacher and fellow driver Nico Rosberg. He also introduced his wife Anjali and daughter Sara to Schumacher.

The Mumbaikar then went ahead to meet F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone in the Formula One Management team building where they were joined by Bollywood actor Gulshan Grover and legendary three-time former champion Jackie Stewart.

Ecclestone said the sport will gradually match the popularity of cricket in India, adding he was satisfied with the organization of the inaugural Indian Grand Prix.

"F1 is as popular in India as cricket in France but things will improve drastically in the years to come. The media coverage has been overwhelming and people here want to know more about the sport," Ecclestone told IANS at the paddock area.

Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh was the second cricketer to reach the venue.

Besides Tendulkar and Harbhajan, Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone were also spotted.

Jammu and Kasmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was spotted in the paddock for the second consecutive day. Robert Vadra was also seen chatting with the organisers.


Pole position (top 10):

1. Sebastian Vettel (Germany), Red Bull
2. Mark Webber (Australia), Red Bull
3. Fernando Alonso (Spain), Ferrari
4. Jenson Button (Great Britain), McLaren-Mercedes
5. Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain), McLaren-Mercedes
6. Felipe Massa (Brazil), Ferrari
7. Nico Rosberg (Germany), Mercedes
8. Adrian Sutil (Germany), Force India
9. Sebastian Buemi (Switzerland), Toro Rosso
10. Jaime Alguersuari (Spain), Toro Rosso

  

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Comment on this article

  • K. Punja, Mangalore/USA

    Mon, Oct 31 2011

    I am very happy that the very first F1 Formula Race in India was smashing success - a fact that is made more compelling due to the fact that the best in the world participated. Even after many years, Indian international tennis tournaments do not attract the likes of Federrer.

    I will be the first to admit that I held my breath when it was announced India would host the F1 event. I thought we would be an embarrassment. We don't have a great track record coming in the wake of the Commonwealth Games. But surprise, surprise here we have it... SUCCESS!
    Can someone explain what the difference is between the much more expensive Commonwealth Games and this, where with the former we were the laughing stock of the world and the Formulas One Race was made us proud?

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  • Bennet Vas, Mangalore

    Mon, Oct 31 2011

    FANTASTIC ... this is India Shining ... Not Political Propaganda ... Well done organizers .. Have faith .. we are second to none ... keep the POLEE tee cians away .. and there We have INDIA in the fore front of Sports - and every thing else ...

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  • Anson, Mangalore/Bristol

    Mon, Oct 31 2011

    It was great to see formula 1 in india. its one of the top tech and expensive sport in the world where entire europe mad about it. india has done a amazing job to complete the track and race successfully without any fuss like commonwealth games. i can proudly say that indians done it even before america and russia! all credit goes to Vijay mallya who put a lot of effort for the succcess. i hope one day force india will lead the race like the red bull's. i hope the country will realize the safety while driving a machine and accept it in thier life.i never miss a f1 race. while we love Jenson Button as indivisual but as a team afcourse Force India and Kingfisher......

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  • Louis Fernandes, Belthangady

    Mon, Oct 31 2011

    Well India follows the philosophy that we can not wait till the last soul to get rich to start dreaming big. We will dream big , rest will follow in time.

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  • Ahmed, MAngalore / Doha

    Mon, Oct 31 2011

    Would love to see more and more Indian drivers in the circuit.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • ISMAIL.K.PERINJE, PERINJE-YANBU/KSA

    Sun, Oct 30 2011

    In the past ten years or so we did not even dream of India hosting FORMULA ONE car race!In the same time our dream of hosting OLYMPICS still not materialized and we and pray that day come next.India is really shining.

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  • Tony, Mangalore/Sydney

    Sun, Oct 30 2011

    Watched the full race (60 laps) on the TV, which went off well, without any major mishaps. Sebastian Vettel won the race, Jensen Button and Fernando Alonso, secured 2nd and 3rd place respectively, and Mark Webber came 4th. In his prize acceptance speech at the podium, Sebastian Vettel said he was quite happy and proud to win the very first race in India and complimented the Indian Racing authorities for conducting the race in such a professional and excellent manner. He went on to say that the racing track was quite good and the allied facilities were up to the standard. Well done India!

    DisAgree [1] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse


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