Brazilian GP P3: Rosberg fastest in shortened practice
Nioc fastest
By Andrew Hooper
October 17 2009
AT&T Williams driver Nico Rosberg would finish fastest in a shortened final practice session for the 2009 Brazilian GP. Team-mate Kazuki Nakajima would finish in second. The session was delayed due to heavy rain and rivers of water on the track, as well as the helicopter not being able to take off. The drivers would only get 18 minutes but this would be cut short as the session was red flagged.
Brazilian GP Saturday
Practice
The final sixty
minute Saturday practice for the 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix would see the
rain falling heavily prior to the start of the session. There would be very
little chance of the drivers taking to the track with thunder and mist also
adding to the monsoon conditions. The start of the session would be delayed
due to the medical helicopters not been able to take off. The rain would
start to ease off but the track conditions made it nearly impossible for the
drivers to run. The weather updates said that another big shower would hit
in about ten minutes.
Nico Rosberg was in his pit looking relaxed giving the thumbs up. Kazuki
Nakajima was in his car ready to go with his helmet on. Nico said that
everything was OK. But it would be challenging in qualifying if they did not
get some more running. It was pouring again with the conditions now
impossible. But it would start to lighten up and the teams would start to
get their cars ready. There was still no start time for the session despite
thirty minutes run since the session was suppose to start. More drivers were
taking to their cars. With the start of the session announced the drivers
would get only eighteen minutes of time on the track. Nico was now in his
car and would discuss with his engineer where the rivers of water were.
It was getting a lot brighter as the first car came down the pit lane,
Fisichella. A green light and he was off running on the full wet tyre. Nico
was third out behind Kovalainen. More drivers were coming out including
Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, both Toyota's, and Heidfeld. Fisichella
returned to the pit lane joined by Heidfeld. Nico would continue starting
his first lap. Barrichello had left the pit lane while quite a few drivers
had pitted. Kovalainen would set a time of 1m:31.716 but Nico would move
ahead with a 1m:30.483. Hamilton was now second, 1m:30.772, as Kazuki and
Button took to the track. Barrichello would also pit.
Nico would improve with a 1m:26.712 to remain fastest as Kovalainen set a
time of 1m:27.487 to move into second. Hamilton would set a 1m:27.798. Both
Renault's were out on the track joined by Webber. The times would come down
with Nico setting a 1m:25.060 and Kovalainen a 1m:25.685. Kazuki was third
with a 1m:26.575. Hamilton would pit from fourth while Button was fifth,
1m:30.757. The only driver yet to come out was Kubica. Kovalainen would pit
while Nico was down to a 1m:24.169 as the rain started to fall again. Kazuki
was third while Alonso and Grosjean were fourth and fifth. Nico was down to
a 1m:23.396 to remain fastest. Grosjean would spin at Turn one. Kazuki was
now second with a 1m:23.832 while Alonso and Button improved to be third and
fourth.
Kovalainen was fifth but this would change as Trulli moved into fourth,
1m:24.859. Button was fifth from Webber, Kovalainen, and Alguersuari. Button
was now third with a 1m:24.122. Both Williams drivers continued to circulate
around the track while Sutil was up to fifth with five minutes remaining.
Grosjean would have a big off taking off his front wing. Coming out of the
exit of Turn five he would simply aquaplane and was a passenger. It was
lucky that the car did not flip as it hit the barrier. The session would be
red flagged with the drivers returning to their pits. Grosjean was sixth at
the time of his accident.
The track was empty with Nico fastest from Kazuki, Button, Alonso, Grosjean,
Buemi, Trulli, Heidfeld, and Webber in tenth. The session would come to an
end at 12:00 to allow the two hours prior to the start of qualifying, which
is set in the regulations. Qualifying is going to be a very difficult
session for everyone with the conditions likely to be similar. There is not
much that can be taken from a session with just thirteen minutes of running
in terrible conditions.
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Rosberg AT&T Williams-Toyota (B) 1:23.182 9
2. Nakajima AT&T Williams-Toyota (B) 1:23.832 7
3. Button Brawn GP-Mercedes (B) 1:24.122 6
4. Alonso Renault (B) 1:24.125 5
5. Sutil Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:24.149 4
6. Grosjean Renault (B) 1:24.389 5
7. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:24.443 5
8. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:24.859 5
9. Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) 1:24.867 5
10. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:25.440 5
11. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:25.508 4
12. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:25.685 5
13. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:26.224 6
14. Barrichello Brawn GP-Mercedes (B) 1:26.530 4
15. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:27.047 4
16. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:27.341 4
17. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:27.798 4
18. Fisichella Ferrari (B) 1:29.285 4
19. Kubica BMW Sauber (B) 1:29.895 3
20. Kobayashi Toyota (B) 1:30.259 4
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