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The ST.....
Sep 26, 2008
Alonso pips Hamilton
Fernando Alonso hurled his Renault around the track in 1:45.654, 0.098 ahead of McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton. -- PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Lewis Hamilton dominated the opening practice for the Singapore Grand Prix Friday, driving under lights for the first time. -- PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sebastian Vettel, who stunned the field to win the last Grand Prix in Italy, came 11th in his Toro Rosso, more than two seconds behind in the first practice session on Friday. -- PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Australia's Mark Webber in a Red Bull became the first Singapore casualty, crashing into the barriers on turn 18 during his fifth lap. His front right wheel was mangled but he walked away unscathed. -- PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rain pelted Singapore on Friday morning but it cleared by evening as the drivers clocked as many laps as possible to familiarise themselves with the circuit and conditions. -- PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Lewis Hamilton (pictured) pushed his McLaren around the bumpy Marina Bay street circuit in 1:45.518 to finish 0.080 of a second faster than his Ferrari-driving Brazilian rival, Felipe Massa, in the first practice session on Friday. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
TWO-TIME world champion Fernando Alonso stunned Lewis Hamilton to grab the fastest time in opening practice for the Singapore Grand Prix on Friday, driving supremely under lights for the first time.
The British world championship leader was the pace-setter in the first session around the bumpy Marina Bay street circuit and looked to have sewn up the second before Alonso pipped him on the last lap.
The Spaniard hurled his Renault around the track in 1:45.654, 0.098 ahead of the McLaren driver.
It was marginally slower than the 1:45.518 Hamilton drove in the first session.
Felipe Massa in a Ferrari, who is one point behind Hamilton in the title race with four Grand Prix left, was third fastest.
Hamilton's McLaren teammate Heikki Kovalainen was fourth with Williams' Nico Rosberg fifth, and BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica six.
Defending champion Kimi Raikkonen came seventh.
Rain pelted Singapore on Friday morning but it had cleared by evening with the track dry and the weather hot and humid as the drivers clocked as many laps as possible to familiarise themselves with the circuit and conditions.
Not everyone found the going easy.
Australia's Mark Webber in a Red Bull became the first Singapore casualty, crashing into the barriers on turn 18 during his fifth lap of the first session. His front right wheel was mangled but he walked away unscathed.
He failed to appear for the second session.
Numerous other cars had close shaves with Rosberg and teammate Kazuki Nakajima both spinning, while Sebastian Vettel, the surprise winner of the last Grand Prix in Italy, lost control of his car twice.
He recovered but could only end 13th.
BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld, Renault's Nelson Piquet, and Honda's Rubens Barrichello also had trouble controlling the car on the track.
The very tight left-hand turn 18 was most problematic, but so was the equally tricky turn 7.
Rosberg set the early pace before Hamilton took charge, powering past some of Singapore's most prominent landmarks in 1:46.080 on his third lap.
The 23-year-old kept chipping away at his time, bettering it twice to stay top until Massa sneaked past him with 15 minutes of the 90-minute session left.
It was a defiant signal by the Brazilian who careered off the track at turn 16 and then did the same just minutes later at turn one, forcing him into the pits.
But Hamilton was too good, grabbing back first place with six minutes left before Alonso came from nowwhere to prove there is still life in the 2005 and 2006 champion. -- AFP |
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Massa edges Hamilton for pole
Formula One: Massa edges Hamilton to take Singapore pole
FERRARI'S Felipe Massa stormed to pole position for the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday, topping the times during qualifying ahead of McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.
It was a crucial drive by the Brazilian with front row of the grid likely to be decisive on the bumpy Marina Bay street circuit where overtaking will be possible, but difficult.
His lap of 1:44.801 was 0.664 of a second ahead of the British world championship leader, who is one point in front of his rival in the title race with four Grand Prix left.
Defending world champion Kimi Raikkonen, desperate for a win here to keep alive his slim hopes of retaining his title, was third fastest for Ferrari and BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica was fourth in the Toro Rosso.
Heikki Kovalainen, in the second McLaren, was fifth ahead of Nick Heidfeld for BMW Sauber.
New kid on the block Sebastian Vettel, winner in Italy earlier this month, was seventh in his Toro Rosso with Timo Glock eighth, Nico Rosberg ninth and Kazuki Nakajima tenth.
Forecasters had said there was a 50 percent chance of rain over the weekend, but it held off Saturday, allowing the cars to be pushed as hard as possible in hot and humid conditions under the powerful spotlights illuminating the track.
But it proved to be a disastrous evening for Fernando Alonso, who was the world champion in 2005 and 2006, topped the final practice and looked to be good for pole position.
It all went wrong in the second qualifying session when the engine of his Renault cut out, leaving the frustrated 19-time Grand Prix winner no option but to climb out of his car and put his head in his hands.
It means the Spaniard will have to start from 15th, effectively ruling out any chance of victory here in only the third time he has qualified outside the top 10 this year.
Force India's Giancarlo Fisichella, whose car lifted off the ground after he misjudged a chicane and hit the barriers in the practice session, pulled off a similar stunt in qualifying and will start last in the grid.
Fellow Force India driver Adrian Sutil joins him at the rear of the race. |
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S'pore GP qualifying result
>Sept 27 - Official qualifying result from the Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday
1. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari 1 min 44.801 secs
2. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) McLaren 1:45.465
3. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari 1:45.617
4. Robert Kubica (Poland) BMW Sauber 1:45.779
5. Heikki Kovalainen (Finland) McLaren 1:45.873
6. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) BMW Sauber 1:45.964
7. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:46.244
8. Timo Glock (Germany) Toyota 1:46.328
9. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Williams - Toyota 1:46.611
10. Kazuki Nakajima (Japan) Williams - Toyota 1:47.547
11. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Toyota 1:45.038
12. Jenson Button (Britain) Honda 1:45.133
13. Mark Webber (Australia) RedBull - Renault 1:45.212
14. David Coulthard (Britain) RedBull - Renault 1:45.298
15. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Renault 1:44.971
16. Nelson Piquet (Brazil) Renault 1:46.037
17. Sebastien Bourdais (France) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:46.389
18. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Honda 1:46.583
19. Adrian Sutil (Germany) Force India - Ferrari 1:47.940
20. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Force India - Ferrari no time
(Compiled by Infostrada Sports; Editing by Tom Pilcher) |
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The Sunday Times.....
Sep 28, 2008
Credit crunch: F1 not spared
Many backers of the world's richest sport are banks and other big conglomerates who have been affected by the credit crunch. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
THE glamorous and money-fuelled world of Formula One is not immune to the global financial crisis but it is adapting to the tougher times, leading figures in the sport say.
Many backers of the world's richest sport are banks and other big conglomerates who have been affected by the credit crunch.
New sponsors are few and far between and teams must continue to spend millions of dollars to fund research and development, run the cars, pay drivers, engineers and other staff, and transport equipment around the world.
'I suppose it will have some side effects, but what they will be I don't know,' said the sport's influential commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone.
Team owners were more explicit.
'I think it is going to be difficult times, no question, and if you look at new sponsors coming into Formula One, it is very seldom, especially the big ones,' said Toro Rosso co-owner Gerhard Berger.
'As I see it, it is not going to be easy the next two years.' Williams chief executive Adam Parr said it was important to recognise that the global economic slowdown would impact the sport, but said teams were preparing for any fallout.
'It would be foolish to think that the external environment doesn't affect our business but I think what is important, as with any business, is to prepare and we are trying to do that, some perhaps harder than others,' he said.
'We need within FOTA (Formula One Teams' Association) to get on and identify ways to reduce our costs.
'(But) in spite of the global environment we are in rude good health but we will only stay in rude good health if we prepare for the future because the world is changing right now, very, very fast, faster than anybody could have imagined even a month ago.
'I think it is time to get down and change a few things.'
Moving the sport into new markets, like Singapore, where the first ever night race was being held over the weekend, and the oil-rich countries of the Arab world, was one way to generate new interest and attract new money, they said.
The head of Mercedes Motorsport, Norbert Haug, pointed to the Singapore night race as a prime example of the sport embracing new and exciting challenges to keep it interesting for sponsors and spectators.
'Of course, in the whole financial world, all the surroundings are really challenging, probably more so than ever, but if you look at what was invested here, and what will be the outcome, what will be the exposure worldwide,' he said.
'Singapore is known for being a metropole for financial business for example, and I think that sends out really positive signals.
'It is not just another normal race, it's a huge step and a really good chance for Formula One, for the sponsor partners, for everybody involved, for the media, for worldwide television viewers.'
Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner agreed that it was important not to turn a blind eye to what was happening on global financial markets, but was still upbeat.
'The global economy at the moment isn't in great shape and it affects all areas of the pit lane,' he said.
'It is down to the teams to work collectively with the governing body to make sure that we are responsible in what we do to control our costs.
'But, on the other hand, venues and races such as this one are so powerful and strong for Formula One and demonstrate Formula One in such a strong and fantastic light.
'I think there are other very positive aspects as well and I think this race, certainly this weekend, will be a big boost for the series in general.' -- AFP |
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Nightspot operators race to cash in on party spending during S'pore GP
By Pearl Forss, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 28 September 2008 0043 hrs
 
Fashion show at Stylo Fashion Grand Prix event Amber Lounge party
SINGAPORE: A different kind of race was happening into the wee hours over the weekend - the race to host the best Grand Prix party.
It was definitely party weekend in Singapore as an army of international DJs and a number of international celebrities descended on the island that is trying to brand itself as the playground for the rich and the famous.
Two of the night's hottest bashes - the Amber Lounge party at Millennia Walk and the Stylo Fashion Grand Prix event at the Mercedes Benz Centre.
Singapore is one of five Grand Prix destinations playing host to the Amber Lounge exclusive party.
It is organised by Sonia Irvine, the sister of former F1 British racer Eddie Irvine.
The three-day party is usually where most drivers go to see - and be seen.
Sonia Irvine said: "We just opened the club about an hour ago and it is nearly full. So they party early in Singapore."
Over at the Mercedes-Benz Centre, millionaires, ministers and Malaysian royalty were entertained with a fashion show by Malaysian and Singaporean designers.
Stylo is the only Malaysian initiative included in the official Singapore Grand Prix Season calendar.
And fitting nicely with the racing theme, party-goers danced to the sounds of Electronica act, Chicane.
It looks like the heart-thumping action is not just on the track for the 40,000 tourists in Singapore.
"Where else do you get to see Chicane, F1 and then go to the bar of your choice," said a party-goer.
"Gorgeous girls, great party, great music!" said another.
With hundreds of parties to choose from over the weekend, it's clear Singapore will be leaving quite an impression as Southeast Asia's party capital.
- CNA/ir |
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F1 creates opportunity for art exhibits
By Nina E Varghese, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 27 September 2008 2024 hrs
One of the 10 sculptures at Orchard Road
SINGAPORE: Singapore's artistic landscape has changed in September, and in tandem with the Formula One (F1) race, some monumental pieces have been brought in.
It seems large-scale events on the national calendar create a perfect opportunity for art galleries to introduce special exhibits, and this is a winning strategy that art galleries have started to employ.
In 2006, the Opera Gallery Group took advantage of the IMF and World Bank meetings to bring in a set of Salvador Dali sculptures.
And in 2008, as Singapore hosts the first ever F1 night race, it has introduced 10 sculptures to the shopping district stretching from the St Regis Hotel to Wisma Atria.
They include the works of a range of contemporary masters, including Fernando Botero and Robert Indiana.
Spokesperson for Opera Gallery Group, Cedric Tan, said, "The decision for this exhibition was based on the success we garnered two years ago when we did Dali in Singapore.
揝o in this year when Singapore begins to host the Grand Prix for the next five years, we think it's a good place to start with another exhibition on a similar if not grander scale."
So far, Opera Gallery says the response from institutional and private investors, collectors and the general public has been overwhelming.
Although the IMF and World Bank meetings happened some two years ago, the verdict is still out on revenues for the Dali sculptures that were brought in back then. However, sales for sculptures in the current exhibition have amounted to some US$3 million even before the F1 race.
The sculptures will remain till the end of October.
- CNA/yt |
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Hotels hope F1 telecast will boost future tourism arrivals
By Pearl Forss, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 27 September 2008 2327 hrs
SINGAPORE: The winner of the inaugural Singapore F1 Grand Prix will only be known on Sunday evening.
But there is already one big winner - Singapore's hospitality industry.
Fullerton Hotel is one of the many trackside hotels with a lovely view of Singapore's city skyline.
Like the Fullerton, hotels in Singapore have seen a surge in business this weekend, despite the higher prices being charged.
A room at the Marina Bay area hotels costs about US$900 per night, and many hotels are over 80 per cent full.
Hosting the Formula One costs Singapore around US$115 million, and tourism receipts from hotel bookings, parties and retail businesses are expected to be around US$77 million.
The government has said this is a conservative estimate.
But more importantly, this is the first time the Singapore skyline will be beamed to 500 million TV viewers around the world during Sunday's night race.
The hope is that the view will attract more tourists to come to Singapore, even after the F1 fever dies down.
- CNA/ir |
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The Sunday Times.....
Sep 28, 2008
S'pore jewel in F1 crown
Hopefully this will open people's eyes and they'll say, my God, Singapore really is alive and well,' said F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. -- ST PHOTO: TERENCE TAN
FORMULA One supremo Bernie Ecclestone pushed hard to bring a night race to Singapore and on Sunday he described it as the jewel in the sport's crown.
The 77-year-old, renowned as a shrewd operator, has long worked to steer the glamorous sport towards Asia and the Middle East, and said the success of the Singapore spectacle on the city streets would open eyes.
When asked by the Straits Times newspaper here if Singapore could one day be the jewel in the crown, he replied, 'Why not? It more or less is now.'
Ecclestone continues to be bullish about Asia and the Middle East in the future development of the sport, seeing the untapped markets as critical to maintaining sponsor and spectator interest.
'For years I've been saying go East, not West,' he said.
With Singapore now on the calendar, Asia and the Middle East have six Grand Prix races - along with Australia, Bahrain, China, Japan and Malaysia being.
Abu Dhabi will make its debut next year with South Korea coming on board on 2010 and India, initially expected to stage a race in 2010, now slated for 2011.
Their inclusion comes at the expense of Formula One's traditional base in Europe as the sport aims for a more globalised calendar.
Ecclestone, the billionaire who holds Formula One's commercial rights, said Singapore was an example to follow and would make people reconsider their opinions of Asia.
'When you think about it, most parts of Asia where people have visited, they sort of put everything in one basket,' he told the newspaper.
'Singapore is the same as India, Malaysia and Thailand, that's how they feel because they don't know any better.
'But hopefully this will open people's eyes and they'll say, my God, Singapore really is alive and well.' -- AFP |
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Motor Racing: Alonso wins drama-filled Singapore Grand Prix
SINGAPORE - Spain's Fernando Alonso snapped a year-long win drought to take the Singapore Grand Prix Sunday, winning a drama-filled first ever night race as a comical error cost Felipe Massa dearly.
It was the Renault driver's first victory since the Italian Grand Prix last year and capped a remarkable weekend that saw him top two of the free practice sessions but start 15th on the grid after a mechanical problem in qualifying.
He claimed his 20th career triumph by 2.95 seconds over Germany's Nico Rosberg in a Williams and Britain's world championship leader Lewis Hamilton who came in third.
Toyota driver Timo Glock was fourth with Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel following up his win in Italy this month with fifth. BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld took sixth.
The race was a new experience for every driver on a street circuit under powerful spotlights and it turned out to be one of the most exciting of the season.
Despite dark clouds lurking, Singapore's notorious tropical downpours stayed away and the whole race was run in dry, but hot and humid conditions.
Ferrari's Massa started from pole but a disastrous mistake cost him the race and valuable points in his push for the world title.
His 13th place finish means he is now seven points behind Hamilton in the championship hunt with just three Grand Prix left at Japan, China and Brazil.
The Brazilian was in the pits on lap 15 when he was given the green light and drove off with the fuel hose still attached to his car, leaving one of the pit crew floored and subsequently carted off in a neck brace.
Massa ended up sitting in his Ferrari at the end of the pit lane as the crew ran after him and managed to pull the hose free, but it ruined his chances. He was given a drive through penalty and rejoined in 18th place.
It was a miserable night for Ferrari with defending world champion Kimi Raikkonen ramming his car into the barriers with just four laps to go, ending his race.
The Massa drama occurred after the cars came in when Nelson Piquet careered into the wall on the exit from turn 17, bouncing into the barriers on the other side of the track, causing massive damage to his Renault.
He climbed out unscathed but the safety car was deployed.
Massa was leading at the time with Hamilton second but at the restart, Rosberg was in front followed by Jarno Trulli and Giancarlo Fisichella, with Robert Kubica fourth and Alonso fifth.
Hamilton was ninth, but Rosberg and Kubica were subsequently slapped with a 10-second stop penalty for coming into the pits after the Piquet crash before it had opened.
The complicated scenario saw Toyota's Trulli in the lead on lap 28 but without having pitted with Alonso second, Rosberg third and Hamilton charging in sixth.
With Trulli taking his first pit stop soon after Alonso, who started from 15th on the grid, amazingly found himself in front just after the halfway mark with a 4.9 second lead over Rosberg.
Alonso came in for his second pit stop on lap 41 and came out still in the lead, marginally ahead of David Coulthard and Hamilton.
Remarkably, when Coulthard pitted soon after he too drove off with the fuel pipe attached, knocking over a mechanic who was stretchered off with an injured ankle, dropping the Scotsman to ninth.
There was more action to come.
Alonso was cruising with a 23 second lead when Adrian Sutil shunted his Force India into the wall, bringing the safety car out again and wiping out the Spaniard's advantage.
When they restarted with seven laps left it was a sprint to the finish and two-time world champion Alonso made no mistake, writing his name in the record books as the first winner of a Formula One night race.
- AFP/ir |
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The ST.....
Sep 29, 2008
Night race wows world
Thrills and spills mark Fl's debut in Singapore
By Leonard Lim
The race, won by Alonso served up plenty of thrills for spectators and a worldwide TV audience estimated at 500 million. -- PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
The race yesterday, ending in a surprising win by Renault's Alonso, was electrifying. The crowd jumped to its feet at the start and remained standing for most of the event. -- ST PHOTO: TERENCE TAN
ON A night when sporting history was made, the big winners were Renault driver Fernando Alonso, Formula One and its fans, and Singapore.
Over 100,000 spectators, close to half of them tourists, turned up in the heart of the city to witness the world's first F1 night race yesterday.
Thousands more watched it on TV at home, at parties, and at nightspots. Many others who were downtown did not catch sight of the cars, but heard the howl of F1 engines and said it was something not soon forgotten.
And after an incident-packed two hours which saw several crashes and a horribly botched pit-stop involving pre-race favourite Felipe Massa of Ferrari, they were left hungry for more.
The race, won by Alonso - who had written off his own chances barely 24 hours earlier after developing an engine problem in qualifying - served up plenty of thrills for spectators and a worldwide TV audience estimated at 500 million.
There were three crashes, several lead changes and wheel to wheel action.
But while locals and foreigners alike said the race was quite the treat, they reserved the bulk of their praise for Singapore.
Many agreed the $150 million tab for staging it was worth it.
Said bank executive Joanne Lim, 27: 'To actually prepare to host the F1 in just over a year was amazing. Our successful staging shows the world the Singapore brand of efficiency.'
Foreigners vowed to return next year - Singapore has a five-year contract to host the race - charmed by what they had seen.
Said Briton Simon Crosse, 44: 'This is my first visit, and I've been overwhelmed. I've been to about 15 other Grands Prix, and this is the best.
'The night atmosphere, the organisation, it was just fantastic.'
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong gave the event the thumbs-up from the Pit Building yesterday, after watching part of the proceedings on track.
'The race itself is one thing. I think the audience, we've got the stands full, people are enjoying themselves and we've got a lot of publicity from this for Singapore.
'I've been watching it on TV the last couple of nights, not watching the cars, but watching the skyline, to see whether the skyline shows up and we see Singapore showing off its best.
'And I think that it's a city we can be proud of, and this is a valuable buzz, publicity for us around the world, which will benefit us in many ways.'
The praise flowed from many other quarters.
The sport's supremo, Bernie Ecclestone, called Singapore the 'jewel in the crown of F1'.
Across the world, newspaper and TV reports hailed the event as a stunning success. Writing in London's Sunday Times yesterday, for example, columnist and former race driver Martin Brundle called the Republic a 'world-class venue'.
Of night racing, he added, 'all of the senses are heightened, and the atmosphere...was electrifying'.
The accolades mean that two of the main aims of hosting the race - global exposure for Singapore and bolstering the Republic's reputation as an entertainment and events capital - have been met.
It is early days yet to tell if the other aim - boosting tourist receipts - has been met as spectacularly, but several entertainment and food outlets said business was definitely up over the weekend.
Indochine chief executive Michael Ma said: 'We've been extremely busy, roughly doubling our business over the weekend. It was a boon, especially for our Orchard and Clarke Quay outlets.'
Many Orchard Road retailers also said business was up by about 20 per cent over the weekend, thanks to the big influx of tourists.
To be sure, not everything went off without a hitch.
Despite an extensive business continuity plan, for instance, stores in the Marina area were hit by road closures which left many tenants twiddling their thumbs over the weekend.
Parts of the Marina Bay circuit also got the thumbs-down after Friday's practice sessions, especially the bumps in some parts and the high kerbing after St Andrews' Road.
But after organisers fixed the problems, drivers were effusive in their praise.
Said championship leader Lewis Hamilton: 'The most impressive thing for me is what an amazing job they have done here in Singapore to prepare the circuit.
'I think they did a tremendous job.'
The race itself? It was practically consigned to second place behind the praise for Singapore, but for the record: Nico Rosberg of the BMW team followed Alonso home in second place, with Hamilton finishing third.
Massa ended 13th out of 15 finishers, after he roared out of the pit lane with a fuel line still attached to his Ferrari.
The result leaves Hamilton on 84 points, seven ahead of Massa in the world championship standings with three races left.
limze@sph.com.sg |
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The ST.....
posted by holmes
tgh layan F1 kat Spore ni...
Adoiii... masa kat bakang lak...
Sep 28, 2008
Massa makes pitstop blunder
The Ferrari dragged the hose down the pitlane, knocking over mechanics in the process, before Massa stopped and waited for assistance. -- PHOTO: AP
A DISASTROUS pitstop sent Ferrari's title contender Felipe Massa from first to last in the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday.
The Brazilian, ahead of rival Lewis Hamilton and on course to take the championship lead at the time, was given the green light to go but the fuel hose was still connected as he accelerated away.
The hose tore off its mooring, spewing gasoline in the air and lashing a crew member who fell to the ground as the Ferrari drove away, less than 50 minutes into the race.
After realizing the error, Massa stopped further down in the pit with the hose trailing behind him, as stunned crew members rushed to help.
Having lost precious time, Massa rejoined the race in 18th position, wrecking what until then had been a perfect race from the pole.
He had been well in front of championship leader Lewis Hamilton, who started second.
The Brazilian was given a drive-through penalty for unsafe release because he almost collided with another car while leaving the pit with the hose.
The mechanic who was brought down by the snaking hose was carried away on a stretcher for a checkup at the on-track medical center.
A spokesman for Ferrari said the mechanic who had been dragged along by the car was not seriously injured but had been taken to the medical centre.
McLaren's Hamilton leads Massa by one point in the championship with three races remaining after Singapore.
In other incidents, Renault's Nelson Piquet Jr. crashed against a side protective barrier, while Ruben Barrichello found his Honda stopping suddenly.
Piquet was apparently unhurt, climbing out of his wrecked car before dashing across the track to get out through an opening.
Barrichello also found his way out of the track to mingle with spectators and shake their hands. -- REUTERS, AP |
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Sep 28, 2008
Hamilton stretches lead
LEWIS Hamilton stretched his lead over Felipe Massa to seven points with his third place at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday, but said there is still a long way to go in the title race.
The 23-year-old Briton now has 84 points to Massa's 77 with three races to go in Japan, China and Brazil.
Robert Kubica in the BMW Sauber has 64, Kimi Raikkonen in the second Ferrari is on 57 and Nick Heidfeld, also in a BMW Sauber, has 56, and they are theoretically still in the drivers' world championship hunt.
But the title is the McLaren driver's to lose with Ferrari's Massa finishing in 13th and outside the points in the inaugural Formula One night race here.
'I enjoyed driving here and I'm pretty happy,' said Hamilton, who started second on the grid behind Massa.
'It was a tough weekend but we got some good points.'
'It was all about scoring points. We came here with a one point lead and saw that the Ferrari's were competitive and would be tough to beat.'
'Fortunately the race had a couple of incidents.'
While there is now a seven point gap between the two rivals, Hamilton said he was not getting ahead of himself, pointing to Massa's disastrous pit stop as an example of what can easily go wrong.
Massa was leading when he was given the green light in the pits with the fuel pipe still attached. He drove off, knocking a mechanic over, with the crew chasing after him.
He ended up sitting in his car at the end of the pit lane while his team wrestled to the pull the hose free. He was given a drive through penalty and rejoined in 18th place.
'Moving forward we will approach the remaining races the same as we have this weekend,' said Hamilton.
'We don't want to get ahead of ourselves as you can see the sort of things that can happen.'
'I'm just happy to have a podium finish in the first Singapore night race. I have no doubt that we have a competitive package to compete with the Ferraris.'
The next Grand Prix is in Japan. -- AFP |
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The ST.....
Sep 28, 2008
'Electrifying' atmosphere at F1
'It's a party mood here... It's simply electrifying,' said an F1 fan. -- PHOTO: SHAMSUL JANGARODIN
FORMULA One Grand Prix fans heading to the inaugural race in Singapore did not let a slightly overcast sky dampen their mood for the biggest sporting event ever held in the city-state.
The atmosphere outside the gates was relaxed, with many fans having picnics on a nearby patch of grass, while those without tickets crowded into a nearby shopping mall hoping to get a glimpse of the track.
For Singaporean engineer Darren Goh, who spent almost S$300 on a three-day pass, the chance to see an F1 race in person for the first time beat watching on television.
'It's a party mood here... It's simply electrifying,' he told AFP after he and a friend finished snapping pictures of themselves outside Gate 7, where a huge Grand Prix banner welcomed race fans.
'There are a lot of fringe activities... Everybody is enjoying themselves, including myself.'
In the lead-up to the race, organisers lined up a series of events, including a race by Aston Martin cars and live music inside the paid ticket zone.
Hundreds of fans formed an orderly line in front of the gate and took photographs before heading to their seats ahead of the sport's first ever night race.
Outside, vendors sold headphones for S$100 that promised to reduce the deafening engine noise of the race cars.
Singaporean IT executive Ho Jiayun, who also had a three-day pass, said she hoped her F1 hero, defending world champion Kimi Raikkonen, would put up a strong showing despite qualifying third fastest, for Ferrari.
'This is my first F1 race. It's totally different when you watch it and hear people cheering for different teams,' she said.
'It is just fantastic to be here to soak up the atmosphere.'
Morgan Kie, 10, in a red Ferrari T-shirt, was also hoping for a Raikkonen victory on the street circuit hugging Singapore's waterfront.
'Actually I am very excited,' said Kie, who came from Jakarta to watch the race with his family.
Those without tickets did their best to position for a glimpse of the cars.
Some fans crowded into an outdoor shopping mall staircase that offered them a sliver of track view.
English tourist Andrew Harrison, in Singapore on holiday with his wife Irene, would also get only a partial view of the track but at least he would be watching it from the comfort of his hotel.
'We had the opportunity to walk a part of the circuit,' he said as he soaked up the atmosphere ahead of the race. 'The way they have done up the lighting is excellent.' -- AFP |
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The ST.....
Sep 28, 2008
M'sia rules out night race
'The lighting costs quite a bit and this is an effort to keep the cost of F1 in Malaysia down,' said Sepang International Circuit chairman Mokhzani Mahathir (left). -- PHOTO: BUSINESS TIMES
MALAYSIAN Grand Prix organisers have ruled out holding a night race next year following the success of the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend, but they have pushed back the start time to 5pm.
The sport's governing body has been pushing for more night races in Asia to satisfy European television demands and earlier this year Malaysia said it was keen to go ahead with one in 2009.
Sepang International Circuit (SIC) chairman Mokhzani Mahathir said the concept was off for the time being, but the race had been pushed back two hours.
'It will still be daylight and about 7pm when the new race finishes and for fans in Europe and Britain, it would be about 10am. We are not going to lose out,' he told Malaysia's Star newspaper in Singapore on Sunday.
He blamed the cost of lighting for the decision, with officials previously saying the SIC would need to invest at least five million dollars to install them.
'The lighting costs quite a bit and this is an effort to keep the cost of F1 in Malaysia down. And Bernie (Ecclestone) has agreed,' he said, adding that the two hour time difference would make for a different experience.
'It will be a bit different. People do not have to wake up so early. And they will still be able to enjoy themselves after that.'
Under a new contract signed last year, in which it agreed to be prepared for night racing, Malaysia will continue to host races until 2015. It held its first Grand Prix in 1999.
On Friday, Ecclestone said he wanted to turn the Japan Grand Prix into a night race, following the example of Singapore.
Asked by BBC radio here if more floodlit races were planned, Ecclestone said: 'If we have more races in this part of the world, yes.
'We're going to try to get Japan to do it. I hope when people see Singapore they realise it wasn't a stupid idea.' -- AFP |
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Well done to Singapore for the glorious event!
Congrats to Renault.. and of course, cutie Fernando Alonso 
but i still heart Brazilian F1 racer; Ayrton Senna...:cry: |
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Reply #37 holmes's post
win some.. lose some game..  |
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Analyst believes Singapore F1 race can still be improved
By Dominique Loh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 29 September 2008 1952 hrs
SINGAPORE: F1 fans could not have asked for a more exciting race, filled with crashes, upsets and a surprise winner.
Don Saroff, a tourist, said: "I'll definitely be coming back for the next four years. The people were very pleasant and everything was very good."
Another tourist from Philippines, Tyrone Ongpauco, said: "Watching it live is really a different experience. The sound the smell, the atmosphere of the people is really very different. You can't get that on TV."
While thousands partied hard at glamorous parties, some said it might take a while for all Singaporeans to develop an affinity for F1, especially in the heartlands.
Gabriel Yap, senior dealing director of DMG & Partners, said that trackside hotels betting on selling out their rooms might also wish to rethink their pricing policy.
Some had jacked up room rates by as much as five times, leading to a slow take-up.
Mr Yap said: "Certain hotels in the Marina area only slashed rates from S$1,500 to S$800-S$900 a night just one to two weeks before the race. I would have expected that it would have been done a long time ago."
Early road closures were also a huge turn-off for shoppers, affecting malls like Suntec City and Marina Square. Authorities will be looking at how to minimise inconveniences to the public in future races, such as cutting down the road closures to just one or two days.
With fans still basking in the afterglow of Singapore's F1 debut, all hopes are for the city's Grand Prix to go beyond its five-year contract. - CNA/vm |
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Category: Negeri & Negara
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Post time 27-9-2008 08:44 AM
