Fastest lap for di Grassi at Monaco
Lucas di Grassi had the consolation of setting fastest
lap after a frustrating GP2 race at Monaco.
Both Lucas and his fellow Renault Driver Development squad
member Jose Maria Lopez suffered damage in a multi-car accident
at the first corner that effectively ruined their races.
Lucas had a good qualifying session and started 11th in the
Durango entry, while Jose was 15th in the Super Nova car.
Any hopes they had of making up ground at the start were dashed
by the chain reaction incident at Ste Devote. Six drivers
didn't make the end of the first lap, and the RDD boys were
among several who had to come into the pits for repairs.
Lucas decided to wait until the pit window opened before
coming in for a new rear wing and two rear tyres. He resumed
the race and then later on had a problem with a front tyre
that turned out to have been damaged in the accident. He went
out again with a fresh set and was able to set fastest lap,
earning his first point of the season. He was eventually classified
11th of the 14 cars still running at the end.
Jose had a long stop for repairs, and eventually resumed
some eight laps down. The rest of the race was basically a
test session for him, and he was not classified at the finish.
However, he did at least set the fifth fastest lap of the
race.
Lucas di Grassi: ‘Everyone was braking
and I braked in time, and the guy behind me crashed into me
and broke my rear wing and bent my suspension. I came in on
the third lap because I had to wait. Then the tyre burst so
we stopped to change all of them. I went out and did the quickest
lap, which was the only thing possible. In the middle of the
race we had a very good car. It was a shame about the start,
but there was nothing I could do about it. At least I got
a point and set a new record for the track! It's a good way
to help get the team together and improve the car for the
last half of the season. Silverstone is a completely different
track from here, but things are getting better and I'm getting
better and more confident with the car.'
Jose Maria Lopez: ‘There's not much
to say! I braked in the first corner and I didn't try anything
because I know it's quite tight. I just saw a car flying over
me. I stopped, and the damage wasn't too bad, so we changed
the front wing and rear wing and went out to see how the car
is. The race pace wasn't too bad, but we struggled a little
bit in qualifying, and that was the main problem. I like Silverstone,
and I hope to be on the podium and score good points. It's
also the home race for the team.'
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