Drivers happy with Sao Paulo track despite woes
March 15, 2010
SAO PAULO (AP)—Drivers praised the newly built street track for the IndyCarseason-opener in Sao Paulo despite problems the entire weekend.
The inaugural Sao Paulo Indy 300 was marked by a bumpy surface, a slickstraight that caused the postponement of qualifying and a rain-shortened finishon Sunday.
But it also provided an exciting race, with a lot of overtaking and athrilling finish.
Australia’s Will Power won the race after passing American Ryan Hunter-Reaywith three laps to go.
“That’s what we need on these street circuits and road courses,”Hunter-Reay said. “A lot of passing like that. We have two straightaways thatwere pretty long and provided pretty good passing zones. The only shame aboutthe whole race is that it went red for some puddles because there were a lot ofbig dips out there and our cars hydroplane pretty easily.”
The race had to be stopped near its halfway point after the puddles in somekey sections made the track unsafe.
The surface also had some severe bumps in some areas, making the circuitphysically demanding on drivers.
Power had to be treated for severe blisters after the race.
“Man, it was hurting,” he said.
But the biggest problem was the slick surface on the main Sambadromestraight, which prompted drivers to complain on Saturday because they were notable to fully accelerate without losing control.
Cars were sliding all over the straight and several drivers crashed inpractice on Saturday.
“The improvements that they did to the track last night, were like nightand day,” Power said. “Not a problem at all going down the front straight. Ithink it is just a really good day for racing. If you were fast you could pass,because there is such a good track layout here. I’m pretty sure it was anexciting race for the fans.”
RACING AT HOME: Vitor Meira’s podium finish saved the day for the Brazilianfans who nearly packed the Sambadrome grandstands for the inaugural Sao PauloIndy 300 on the streets of South America’s biggest city.
“The fans deserved a good finish like this,” said Meira, who finishedthird. “I’m incredible happy with what we were able to achieve here.”
Raphael Matos was fourth and the second-best among the seven Braziliandrivers who started the race, but crowd-favorites Helio Castroneves and TonyKanaan struggled despite the fan support.
Castroneves, a three-time Indy 500 winner, was involved in an accident atthe start and failed to get past a ninth-place finish.
Kanaan, the 2004 IndyCar champion, was hit from behind after a crashinvolving Alex Tagliani and Dan Wheldon just before the race was red-flaggedbecause of heavy rains near the midway point.
Rookie Mario Romancini crashed in the rain, and Mario Moraes failed to getpast the first turn after a collision with Marco Andretti.
Rookie Ana Beatriz was able to finish 13th, on the lead lap.
“I’m very happy for having finish the race,” she said. “It was awonderful weekend. I was able to feel the greatness of this race, with thegrandstands full and the fans cheering our names.”
INCREASED PARTNERSHIP: The IndyCar Series ethanol fuel provider and biggestsponsor last season, Apex-Brasil, had its partnership with the series extendedthrough the 2012 season.
Apex-Brasil is the Brazilian government’s export development agency and theofficial trade and energy partner of the IndyCar Series, representing more than70 different Brazilian business sectors, ranging from fashion to food tofurniture.
In the first two years of the partnership, Apex-Brasil estimates that theprogram fostered more than $370 million worth of new business in varioussectors.
“This decision rewards the work we have been doing for the last year withgreat results,” Apex-Brasil president Alessandro Teixeira said.
A RARE TOAST: Following on the tradition of the Indy 500, Will Power savoredsome milk at the podium after winning the inaugural Sao Paulo Indy 300 onSunday.
The 29-year-old Australian splashed some of the milk on third-place finisherVitor Meira before taking a sip.
The milk was provided by one of the race’s sponsors.