Historical track Watkins Glen (New York) took the penultimate step formulaic American IndyCar Series. At one time, this race track, located near the Seneca Lake took steps United States Grand Prix, «Formula 1». A total of 20 races were held at this track, and the first race races were held back in 1948.
Watkins Glen hit the calendar at the last minute as a replacement for Boston, returning to the IndyCar schedule after a five year absence. The race was very lively and full of events: from crashes and retirements, strangely drift Sato and ride «on the armor» by James Hinchcliffe. Unfortunately, Mikhail Aleshin drove on the highway only 15 laps.
Explosion tires and the ensuing accident did not allow Russian pilots compete for points in the championship, and, perhaps for the podium. The main intrigue of the race — one of the two contenders for the title will come to the last stage of the season with a big advantage. Mathematically win season may not only Simon Pagenaud and Will Power, but a real chance there's only this pair of pilots who will compete for the grand prize and two weeks.
Yawn and doze spectators during the race did not have to. Compare again in favor of the «Formula 1», which is held on the same day of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Action began in the first turn of the first lap. In the struggle for the entrance to the banked track is not shared several riders. The result was a spectacular drift Mikhail Aleshin and Sebastian Bourdais turn. Fortunately, all the participants of the incident were able to continue the race.
On lap 14, Scott Dixon drove first to mechanics, opening a wave of pit stops, and then Mikhail Aleshin exploding tire on the rear left wheel.
The car was damaged and the Russian pilot was out of control. «I had no chance to catch the car, — he said in an interview with Aleshin NBCSN. — It was very bad experience failure when cornering, and then the bus exploded. »
Second yellow flags are not long in coming. At the 20th lap Graham Rahal, Charlie Kimball attacking in turn lightly touched his car and could not keep his car. Race for Graham ended his nose in the fence.
«Probably, it was a strong accident in my life, — said Rahal — Kimball closed my» gate «at the output, but I blame myself too. I should not have put himself in such a situation. » During the action on the track yellow flags on the car of Tony Kanaan broke the rear suspension, and the pilot had to go to the mechanic again.
On the 39th lap, Charlie Kimball once again made history, this time — with one of the contenders for the title. Will Power in the struggle for the position of your car breaks down and loses a chance to get much-needed points to win the championship. On the road again appear yellow flags, and the drivers are sent to a mass pit stop.
The teams chose different strategies for refueling, which had to be adjusted due to accidents. As a result, a number of pilots finished literally «fuel vapors.» That fuel was a decisive factor in achieving high rankings at the finish. Teammate Mikhail Aleshin team SPM James Hinchcliffe could climb to the second step of the podium, but he did not have enough fuel to literally twist to finish.
Frustrated by the pilot threw the steering wheel of the car, then I picked up the truth and hoisted into place. Himself Hinchcliffe picked up along the way Sebastien Bourdais and threw to the pit lane. It is worth noting that the trip «in the armor» — an old racing tradition. In the web there are lots of pictures, where one pilot brings up another, which caused a storm of delight from the audience. In 2013, the FIA punished the pilots for «racing taxi», because, according to the Federation, such a «maneuver» is dangerous. FIA is also poorly relates to the selection of the national flags of the riders on the track after the finish. Such things are not going to benefit in terms of the popularity of racing.
Here is how then Jenson Button commented: «I think when the riders of different teams bringing up each other, it goes to the benefit of the sport only. Pilots hardly communicate with each other — and that's bad. In the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s among the riders was the camaraderie and friendship, but now we are so busy with the affairs of the team, that everything else is not enough time. What happened in Singapore, made me smile — like the fans like, but be careful. I heard that one of Fernando Alonso was summoned to the stewards for what he picked up a Spanish flag. Of course, the danger exists, but this is motor racing! Such things happen after the race, so we could solve them, because they contribute to the growth in popularity of Formula 1 — the fans love it. »
Shortly before the finish line Takuma Sato, too «uchudil». On the last lap he spun in turn, and the car began to move in the opposite direction of the race. Sato drove to the broad places and tried to turn on the spot, but left «donut.» Then Takuma used a «recent» means — a reverse gear. In general, the Japanese somehow managed to leave the scene of the accident in the right direction.
On the podium in Watkins Glen up Scott Dixon, Joseph Nyugarden and Hélio Castroneves. The leader of the season and the main contender to win the season Simon Pagenaud finished seventh, while his main rival for the championship did not get to finish. Before the final stage in Sonoma, where they will be given double points, Pagenaud and Power's shares 43 points. Going Scott Dixon third behind the leader with 104 points, but in theory, and it can become a champion, because for the victory in the race, you can earn more than a hundred points. But while his opponents have to act badly.
The season finale will take place in Sonoma in two weeks, on 18 September.
Photo: Bret Kelley, Chris Jones, Mike Harding, screen shots.
