The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Motor : Alonso fastest in practice

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 10, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport - Racing : Motor

Alonso fastest in practice

MONTREAL : It didn't take Lewis Hamilton long to get used to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the latest new track for the sensational Formula One rookie.

Hamilton, who has finished in the top three in each of his first five F1 races, goes into Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix tied with Mercedes-Mclaren teammate and two-time series champion Fernando Alonso at the top of the standings. The 22-year-old driver from England, on Friday, trailed only Alonso in the first practice and slid to third, behind Ferrari's Felipe Massa.

``I really don't worry so much about coming to a new track,'' Hamilton said. ``Even at the tracks where I have been before, like Monaco, it's different in a Formula One car.

``But I had never seen this circuit before Thursday, so I had to make some preparations with (simulations), talking to my engineers and even playing some video games. And I'm a fast learner.''

That was apparent as he got up to speed in a hurry during the opening practice.

Alonso posted the fastest lap of the session (1 minute, 17.769 seconds), while Hamilton got his time down to 1:17.967. The Ferarri's of Kimi Raikkonen and Massa were third and fourth, both above 1:18.

In the afternoon, Alonso lowered the fastest lap of the day to 1:16.550 and Hamilton also went faster, dropping his time to 1:17.307. Massa managed to get in between the two with a lap of 1:17.090 at the end of the session. — AP

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport