2007 USA Grand Prix Race Report
Adrian Sutil (car 20, F8-VII/03):
14th: 1:31:19.396 (+2 laps)
Fastest lap: 1:14.858
Christijan Albers (car 21, F8-VII/02):
15th: 1:31:16.671 (+3 laps)
Fastest lap: 1:15.902
Weather: 35 C ambient, 45 C track. Very hot with scattered
cloud.
Adrian Sutil and Christijan Albers again demonstrated the
increasing competitiveness of the Etihad Aldar Spyker Formula
One Team in today's gruelling USA Grand Prix. In temperatures
touching the high 30s, both drivers were able to fight with
the midfield group during the 73-lap event to finish in 14th
and 15th positions respectively.
Adrian had an excellent start to move up eight positions
from the line. The German then demonstrated an impressive
race pace before his first pit stop as he stayed with the
Williams of Wurz and kept a chasing pack behind. He dropped
back to the rear of the field following his second stop, but
kept the gap to 13th place within two seconds to secure his
first finish at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Starting from the back row of the grid, the team chose an
aggressive one-stop strategy for Christijan. Despite a heavy
fuel load, the Dutchman did keep pace with the group in front
in the opening third of the race but later got caught in traffic.
A brief stall in his pit stop lost further time, but Christijan
had a relatively trouble-free race to finish a solid 15th.
Adrian Sutil (car 20)
'We had a solid base set-up and after a great start I could
really fight with other cars. There seemed to have been a
little step forwards since Canada, and it was a very good
race for me. I am happy to have made it to the end, especially
as it was a hard race with the high temperatures. It was tough
to push and get as much as possible out of the car, but I'm
pleased and now really looking forward to Magny-Cours.'
Christijan Albers (car 21)
'We were on a one stop strategy, but the beginning of the
race was OK and I managed to keep up with the rest of the
field. Then the first leading cars were coming through and
starting to lap me and I lost a lot of time when they all
made stops and lapped me again! It's a shame, but when you
are in this kind of position you have to risk something and
be aggressive with the strategy. The team was right to go
for the one stop, if there had been a safety car or problems
for the cars in front this could have made the difference.'
Mike Gascoyne, chief technical officer
'A reasonable weekend and race for us. It's slightly disappointing
not to have a better result as today we certainly had the
pace to finish in front of some people. Adrian made a good
start on a two stop strategy but unfortunately we lost too
much time behind the Toro Rosso in the first stint. Although
Adrian pushed hard in his middle stint, he just couldn't get
enough to jump the cars in front that were on a one stop strategy.
He was quicker at the end so it was disappointing not to have
finished in front of more cars. Christijan was on a one stop
strategy, which was compromised by a stall in his pit stop
and lot of blue flags and it didn't really work for him, but
overall it was a much better weekend for us; at least we were
involved in the race with the group in front. We now have
to make sure that we start finishing in front of some of those
people, but well done to everyone in the team.'
Colin Kolles, team principal and managing director
'I am very pleased that we have put the disappointing results
of Monaco and Canada behind us now. Both Christijan and Adrian
were able to race the group in front and, although it's ultimately
a shame not to have finished in front of some people, we did
get two cars to the finish and Adrian in particular showed
impressive race pace. It's a good footing to go back to Europe
now, first for the three-day test in Silverstone and then
over to France.'
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