The first stage of the season in 2016 US «formulaic» IndyCar racing series was shock in every sense. Scandal before the race, a sudden illness holder of pole position, reversals, collisions and mass obstruction, overtaking and the constant struggle for position — more than a bright opening of the championship. The victory of Juan Pablo Montoya and especially the fifth Mikhail Aleshin became the main outcome of the race.
Saint Petersburg (Florida, USA) on a rather short (2.8 km) street circuit hosted the first stage of IndyCar. And the qualification and the race took place on a dry track, but at the end of the weekend, it seemed that just about to rain. Formed the grid on Saturday had to be moved up to the position. qualification winner Will Power was not able to go to the start because of poor health. Doctors diagnosed him with a concussion received in a training session on Friday the crash. It is not clear how Power's generally admitted to the qualification and where doctors watched.
Also the day before the incident occurred, which quickly sold video over the network. Mikhail Aleshin on the road again, just like two years ago, met with his «sworn friend» Sebastien Bourdais. Potty, in general, the incident led Burde in the state of strong excitation.
He decided before the cameras to express their grievances Aleshin, and, Michael replies he seemed never listened. Our driver calmly reacted to the «maneuver» the opponent, and after a short verbal battle withdrew from the scene. On Sunday, of course, I wanted to see how both riders will be performing. Aleshin Burde beat, and with an overwhelming advantage.
The race has passed gathering and not from the point in European definable series. This is the beginning of the arrival less crashes, but teammate Aleshin team James Hinchcliffe and Takuma Sato could not pass the first round without a loss. Punched wheel forced the riders to hold an unscheduled pit stop. Unsuccessful qualification Mikhail Aleshin took him to 18th place on the starting grid and the first part of arrival did not become a breakthrough for the Russian pilot. Simon Pagenaud and Hélio Castroneves went into the race leaders. If Pagenaud for a long time managed to keep the advantage, then Castroneves began to fall even before the first pit stop. By the 32-th circle (out of 110), Mikhail Aleshin was already in the 11th position, overtaking on the track Jack Hawksworth, and to 42 th, he caught a large group of the eight cars that were fighting for position from 4 th to 10 th.
In the first turn of the 47 th round Marco Andretti decided to fight for a position with Felipe and Luca made a mistake. He spun and stalled the car, which led to the appearance of the safety car. By the way, regular pilot pace car this year is pilotessa Sarah Fisher. While Sarah «dragged» over a back of the field, there was a change of positions as pilots go «change shoes» and refuel (yes, refueling of vehicles allowed in the IndyCar!). At the head of the column I was suddenly Conor Daly, who started from the 20th position. Restart failed again the fault of Andretti, Sarah Fisher, and again had to get to work.
What happened after the next restart is necessary to tell in detail. In the fourth turn on the 57th lap of the race in the middle of the back of the field there was a massive dam that provoked Carlos Munoz.
At least six cars drove into each other and blocked the entire road. Almost all. Part marching behind the pilots joined the «bunch of little»: someone damaged the car, someone like Sebastien Bourdais, simply stalled. But Mikhail Aleshin. Russian pilot has demonstrated that it can go well both forward and backward. Without hesitation, the Russian found a fairway between cars and rubble, and left their beaten rivals stalled and waiting for help marshals.
This maneuver brought the Russian pilot immediately to the 10 th position, and before the restart Aleshin was the seventh at the expense of rivals arrival in the pit lane. All under the pace-car pilots had 20 laps of the race.
81-lap started the latest wave of pit stops. At this point, Juan Pablo Montoya was holding strong leadership. The correct timing of pit stops allowed Aleshin occupy the fifth position.
When before the end of arrival was less than 10 laps Hélio Castroneves, who came third, became suddenly lose momentum and gave Ryan Hunter-Ray position. There was a close and Aleshin. But to compete for higher positions Mikhail is not enough time.
Montoya won the race, as in the past year. Finished second his team mate Simon Pagenaud. Mikhail Aleshin, came fifth. It is no exaggeration to say that our pilot had the race as smooth and confident, as the winner of the race. Smart strategy, accurate flying and a great view of the situation on the track Aleshin led to fifth place is not the best starting position. Michael after the race said the brilliant work of the team that prepared a fast and reliable car. Well, Sebastien Bourdais retired from the race on the 87th lap and won the penultimate line in the classification.
The first race in the IndyCar season showed that this series has everything to not fall asleep in front of TV and get real pleasure from the broadcast. The next stage will take place on the oval track in Phoenix on April 2nd.
Finishing position of pilots at the end of the first phase of the IndyCar Series
Photo: John Cote, Chris Jones, Chris Owens / Official site of Indy Car Series, Motorsport.com
