GP2 Series. Germany
VICTORY FOR PANTANO YESTERDAY AND FIFTH FOR VILLA
TODAY IN GERMANY
The Italian stays at the top of the overall classification
in spite of retiring today. Villa, tenth yesterday, got his
best result of the season
Race 1
In a race whose result was influenced by the rain that fell
on the last few laps, Giorgio Pantano increased his lead at
the top of the GP2 Series classification. The Repsol driver
got a very hard-earned second place in yesterday`s race, Saturday,
at Hockenheim. A podium finish that became his fourth victory
of the year a few minutes later when Romain Grosjean, who
had crossed the line in first position, was given a 25 second
penalty.
The start was clean for all the drivers and Pantano knew how
to make the most of his pole position, leading the pack when
they reached the first curve, followed very closely by Grosjean.
On the following laps, the Racing Engineering driver and his
rival set fastest laps and they got away from the driver classified
third, Buemi.
Little by little, the Repsol driver increased his lead over
Grosjean, reaching almost one second on the sixth lap, but
it was up to three on lap 14. Three laps later, Pantano made
his obligatory pit-stop returning to the track in the lead
again. With five laps left the race changed completely when
heavy rain began to fall. The drivers immediately found the
problems associated with steering with slicks on wet asphalt,
several cars went off the track and there were spins. Some
drivers opted to make a pit-stop and to change to wet tyres.
With four laps left, Pantano miscalculated a turn but he
was able to stay in the lead. However, another mistake cost
him first place. With his mind on the championship and with
one eye on the delicate state of the track, the Repsol driver
preferred not to take any risks and decided not to try and
win back the first position. Pantano crossed the finishing
line in second position, but Grosjean was penalised and this
meant that he climbed to to the top of the podium.
For Javier Villa the race didn't end so well. Starting from
eighth position on the grid the young Repsol driver moved
into sixth place before the first lap ended. Villa made an
early pit-stop and when he returned to the track he was behind
Chandhok who had entered a couple of laps earlier. Then a
long fight with the Indian began, it lasted nearly 20 laps.
In the end Villa overtook him and he started to hunt Di Grassi,
fifth, and got past him on lap 34.
When it began to rain, Villa moved up another two positions
thanks to spins by Senna and Buemi. The Repsol driver began
the last lap in a magnificent third position, his best classification
in long career. Unfortunately, that was not the final result,
because when there were just a few hundred metres left Villa
went off the track and finished tenth.
Race 2
Javier Villa got his best result so far this season in the
sprint race held this morning, finishing fifth and getting
two more points. Giorgio Pantano was obliged to retire at
the start of the race when he was fighting for third position.
After the rain that complicated the final part of yesterday's
race, this morning's race took place on a completely dry track.
The start was full of incidents, those in the middle of the
pack hit each other and others tried to take advantage of
the action by carrying out risky manoeuvres on the grid which
caused many changes in the driver order. The two Repsol drivers
knew how to take advantage of the confusion and they finished
the first lap near the leaders: Pantano was sixth and Villa,
ninth.
Halfway through the first lap Pantano continued to make progress
and he overtook another two drivers, finishing the first lap
in fourth position and rapidly catching the driver classified
third, Andy Soucek. The Racing Engineering driver reached
the Super Nova car and tried to overtake on the tight angle
of the Spitzkehre. The two cars hit each other and they had
to abandon the race. Soucek at that very moment, while Pantano
tried to continue, but the steering on his Dallara was damaged
and the Repsol driver had to retire.
After that incident, Javi Villa was seventh, although on
the following lap he had lost a place to Grosjean who was
coming up fast from behind, Villa maintained an excellent
race speed and this allowed him to always keep up with the
quickest. The Repsol driver was at the back of a bunched group
that was fighting for third place, and on the eighth lap he
benefited from a collision between Maldonado and Di Grassi
to move up to sixth position. Villa was not content with that
and he continued to drive as fast as possible until on lap
eleven he passed Parente with a spectacular braking at the
fork, he stayed in this position till the end of the race.
Quotes
Giorgio Pantano >>
>> Race 1
“This was a great victory. I want to thank the team
for giving me another great car this weekend. We made a perfect
start, the same as the race and the pit-stop.
On the last few laps it began to rain and I tried to control
the situation, but Grosjean was quicker. Tomorrow I will try
win maximum points again."
>> Race 2
“I made a very good start and after two laps I was already
fourth. But then I hit Soucek`s car, and the steering column
was damaged, making me retire. It is a pity because I was
in a situation to have a good race. Now it is necessary to
start thinking of the next one, in Hungary".
Javier Villa >>
>> Race 1
"This was a complicated race. I made a good start, moving
up to sixth. I was behind Senna and we both made our pit-stop
at the same time.
I lost a little time and Chandhok passed me on the lap when
I returned to the race. I finally got past him and drive at
a fast pace. Then I overtook Di Grassi and I am sure that
without the rain I would have passed Senna. However five laps
from the end there was a lot of confusion when it began to
rain. I was third two curves from the chequered flag when
it began to rain on that part of the track and I lost adherence
and ended up off the track."
>> Race 2
"I made a very good start reaching the first curve alongside
Giorgio [Pantano]. Later, several cars in front of me hit
each other and I had to take my foot off the accelerator a
little to avoid an accident. We had a good rhythm although
on the first few laps I lost a little time overtaking. Thanks
to the whole team for the work they have done during the night
and which did not let them sleep very much. If it had not
been for them I would not have had the chance to get these
important points today."
Official Results
>> First Race
1. G. PANTANO (RACING ENGINEERING)
2. R. GROSJEAN (ART) + 0.0
3. A. PARENTE (SUPER NOVA) + 54.244
4. B. SENNA (iSPORT) + 56.654
5. L. DI GRASSI (CAMPOS) + 1:00.201
10. J. VILLA (RACING ENGINEERING)
>> Second Race
1. K. CHANDHOK (iSPORT)
2. A. ZUBER (PIQUET SPORTS) + 0.702
3. B. SENNA (iSPORT) + 1.274
4. R. GROSJEAN (ART) + 4.947
5. J. VILLA (RACING ENGINEERING) + 10.893
NC. G. PANTANO (RACING ENGINEERING)
>> Overall Classification
1. G. PANTANO (RACING ENGINEERING) 63 Points
2. B. SENNA (iSPORT) 48 Points
3. R. GROSJEAN (ART GRAND PRIX) 34 Points
4. L DI GRASSI (CAMPOS) 28 Points
5. A. PARENTE (SUPER NOVA) 26 Points
16. J. VILLA (RACING ENGINEERING) 5 Points
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