[Formula 1] Spanish Grand Prix : 27 April 2008
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Track: Circuit de Catalunya, Montmelo, Spain
Lap count: 65
Starting time: 2000 hrs SIN timeTesting takes place so often at this track that the teams have millions of miles of data. Built in an amphitheatre, it is a technical circuit encompassing elevation changes and corners that require huge amounts of aerodynamic and mechanical grip. Wind changes over the course of the race also affect the aerodynamic balance of the cars.
Overtaking is almost non-existent as it is impossible for one car to follow another closely around the track. Several changes have been made in an attempt to improve that - La Caixa was tightened in 2004 and a chicane was added before the final turn last year - but the first corner Elf represents the best opportunity for passing. The cars will be set up with a medium-high downforce configuration, and the smooth but abrasive asphalt does not place much stress on the suspension systems.
Despite the lack of overtaking recently, there have been great moments at past meetings here. In the last wet race in 1996, Michael Schumacher took his first victory for Ferrari, and in 2001, he inherited victory on the last lap when Mika Hakkinen's clutch expired while the latter was leading by 40 seconds.
In 2006, Alonso became the first Spaniard to win his home race with Renault. He took third place last year driving a McLaren after coming
together with Felipe Massa at the first corner, and the latter went on to win the race. Massa won the last round in Bahrain as well and after
a dismal start to the season, he will be looking for his second win on the trot to put him back in the title race.Almost every team will be introducing new aerodynamic and suspension parts for this race and it will be interesting to see how the order
shakes up. BMW and Renault are looking to close the gap to the frontrunners and the upper-midfield respectively. The beleagured Super Aguri team has also made its way to Catalunya, despite the failed takeover talks two weeks ago. -
Spanish GP free practice session 1 times
1. RAIKKONEN Ferrari 1m20.649s
2. MASSA Ferrari 1m20.699s
3. HAMILTON McLaren 1m21.192s
4. KUBICA BMW 1m21.568s
5. KOVALAINEN McLaren 1m21.758s
6. ALONSO Renault 1m21.933s
7. PIQUET Renault 1m21.936s
8. COULTHARD Red Bull 1m22.118s
9. HEIDFELD BMW 1m22.278s
10. BUTTON Honda 1m22.632s
11. GLOCK Toyota 1m23.002s
12. ROSBERG Williams 1m23.003s
13. WEBBER Red Bull 1m23.015s
14. TRULLI Toyota 1m23.141s
15. NAKAJIMA Williams 1m23.153s
16. SUTIL Force India 1m23.156s
17. FISICHELLA Force India 1m23.196s
18. BARRICHELLO Honda 1m23.353s
19. BOURDAIS Toro Rosso 1m23.952s
20. VETTEL Toro Rosso 1m24.082s
21. SATO Super Aguri 1m24.278s
22. DAVIDSON Super Aguri 1m25.068s
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Spanish GP free practice session 2 times
1. RAIKKONEN Ferrari 1m21.935s
2. PIQUET Renault 1m22.019s
3. ALONSO Renault 1m22.032s
4. NAKAJIMA Williams 1m22.172s
5. MASSA Ferrari 1m22.229s
6. WEBBER Red Bull 1m22.238s
7. ROSBERG Williams 1m22.266s
8. COULTHARD Red Bull 1m22.289s9. FISICHELLA Force India 1m22.383s
10. SUTIL Force India 1m22.548s
11. HAMILTON McLaren 1m22.685s
12. KUBICA BMW 1m22.788s
13. HEIDFELD BMW 1m23.130s
14. TRULLI Toyota 1m23.224s
15. BUTTON Honda 1m23.263s
16. KOVALAINEN McLaren 1m23.264s
17. BARRICHELLO Honda 1m23.415s
18. VETTEL Toro Rosso 1m23.661s
19. BOURDAIS Toro Rosso 1m23.684s
20. GLOCK Toyota 1m23.883s
21. SATO Super Aguri 1m25.110s
22. DAVIDSON Super Aguri 1m25.163s
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Spanish GP free practice session 3 times
1. HEIDFELD BMW 1m21.269s
2. COULTHARD Red Bull 1m21.465s
3. ALONSO Renault 1m21.599s
4. KUBICA BMW 1m21.717s
5. TRULLI Toyota 1m21.771s
6. BOURDAIS Toro Rosso 1m21.942s
7. PIQUET Renault 1m21.992s
8. BUTTON Honda 1m22.060s
9. MASSA Ferrari 1m22.075s
10. GLOCK Toyota 1m22.081s
11. HAMILTON McLaren 1m22.094s
12. ROSBERG Williams 1m22.174s
13. RAIKKONEN Ferrari 1m22.176s
14. NAKAJIMA Williams 1m22.189s
15. KOVALAINEN McLaren 1m22.220s
16. VETTEL Toro Rosso 1m22.292s
17. BARRICHELLO Honda 1m22.350s
18. FISICHELLA Force India 1m22.466s
19. SUTIL Force India 1m22.689s
20. SATO Super Aguri 1m23.726s
21. DAVIDSON Super Aguri 1m23.921s
22. WEBBER Red Bull no time -
Raikkonen is on pole, and alongside him is Alonso. The Renault probaably doesn't have the race pace to get onto the podium but his position means he could stay among the top 5 tomorrow. Massa, Kubica, Hamilton and Kovalainen line up behind them in that order.
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Grid:
1. RAIKKONEN Ferrari 1m21.813s
2. ALONSO Renault 1m21.904s
3. MASSA Ferrari 1m22.058s
4. KUBICA BMW 1m22.065s
5. HAMILTON McLaren 1m22.096s
6. KOVALAINEN McLaren 1m22.231s
7. WEBBER Red Bull 1m22.429s
8. TRULLI Toyota 1m22.529s
9. HEIDFELD BMW 1m22.542s
10. PIQUET Renault 1m22.699s
11. BARRICHELLO Honda 1m21.049s
12. NAKAJIMA Williams 1m21.117s
13. BUTTON Honda 1m21.211s
14. GLOCK Toyota 1m21.230s
15. ROSBERG Williams 1m21.349s
16. BOURDAIS Toro Rosso 1m21.724s
17. COULTHARD Red Bull 1m21.810s
18. VETTEL Toro Rosso 1m22.108s
19. FISICHELLA Force India 1m22.516s
20. SUTIL Force India 1m23.224s
21. DAVIDSON Super Aguri 1m23.318s
22. SATO Super Aguri 1m23.496s -
alonso sent the crowd cheering only for them to be silenced a second later... Probably the renault is low on fuel
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Sutil, Vettel, Davidson, Bourdais, Piquet and Kovalainen are out. That was a very bad shunt for Kovy but he's okay.
Fisichella clobbered Barrichello in the pitlane. :x
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Spanish GP result - 66 laps
1. RAIKKONEN Ferrari
2. MASSA Ferrari +3.2s
3. HAMILTON McLaren +4.1s
4. KUBICA BMW +5.6s
5. WEBBER Red Bull +35.9s
6. BUTTON Honda +53.0s
7. NAKAJIMA Williams +58.2s
8. TRULLI Toyota +59.4s
9. HEIDFELD BMW +63.0s
10. FISICHELLA Force India +1 lap
11. GLOCK Toyota +1 lap
12. COULTHARD Red Bull +1 lap
13. SATO Super Aguri +1 lap
R. ROSBERG Williams +25 laps
R. ALONSO Renault +32 laps
R. BARRICHELLO Honda +32 laps
R. KOVALAINEN McLaren +45 laps
R. DAVIDSON Super Aguri +58 laps
R. BOURDAIS Toro Rosso +59 laps
R. PIQUET Renault +60 laps
R. SUTIL Force India +66 laps
R. VETTEL Toro Rosso +66 laps
Fastest lap: RAIKKONEN 1m21.670s