Rate this article:
Greenlight Andretti Green Danica Patrick 1st Win 2008
This is a replica of the racecar used during the 2008 Japan race in which she won her first race ever!
Our Price: 1/18th Scale - $45.95 ($41.36 Member)
Ducati Red Team Logo Hat
100% cotton. Embroidered. Adjustable strap.
Our Price: $36.00 ($32.40 Member)
Formula 1 2009 Calendar
Every month is accompanied by a superb action shot from the 2008 season, with essential information about the sport.
Our Price: $16.95 ($15.26 Member)
Written by:
SPEED Staff
SPEEDtv.com
SPEEDtv.com
07/18/2008 - 03:19 PM
Hockenheim, Germany
Program note: The GP2 feature race from Hockenheim can be seen on SPEED at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday morning.
Current GP2 championship leader Giorgio Pantano stormed to pole position for this weekend’s Hockenheim feature race this afternoon, taking two more bonus points to increase his lead to a season-high 13 points over Bruno Senna.
The 29-year-old Italian has been racing at this level since making his F3000 debut in 2001, apart from his abortive F1 campaign with Jordan in 2004, and at Silverstone he created history when he took his 14th victory at this level of racing, surpassing Mike Thackwell’s 13 wins in F2 and F3000, which had stood as the record since 1985.
His win came in what most people already regard as the greatest ever GP2 race, with continual wheel-to-wheel passing moves at the end of the race. Pantano admitted his veteran status gave him the key advantage.
“Yeah it was very good,” Pantano told SPEED’s Peter Windsor at Hockenheim. “I think the difference was made by (my) experience. We knew about tire problems we would have for such a long race, so I was trying not to push too hard at the beginning, and save them for the end.
You know, I was always close to (Bruno) Senna, (Romain) Grosjean and (Lucas) di Grassi. They were never far away from me, and then after the pitstop I was believing that I had the chance to win the race, and that’s what happened.”
Pantano’s tactics in the race concentrated on rear tire conservation, as they take the most loads and are normally the
only two tires to be changed in GP2’s mandatory pit stops.
“Normally I am trying to use one gear higher than when I am qualifying,” he said. “Where I would take second (in qualifying), I use third. Where I use third (in qualifying) I use fourth. I have the feeling with the rear, and when I see (the car sliding) just a little bit, I put it in the next gear, and I save the tires a lot.”
Although he won the tactical battle, the Racing Engineering driver still had to pass his title rivals on the track for victory, something he enjoyed having to do. “It went quite well – it was fun for me,” he said. “I knew there was only one place (to pass), because Grosjean was closing the door quite a lot. But then I just say, ‘You have to open it, because otherwise I will open the door!’”
His late-race move on Lucas di Grassi for victory was rather easier for the eight-time GP2 race winner. “Di Grassi was easy, very easy. I think probably he had some problem with the car in the first sector because he was losing quite a lot of time” he said.
Having raced three seasons of F3000 and four seasons of GP2, Pantano has struggled to erase the paddock’s memories of his season with Jordan in Formula 1 back in 2004, when he was outpaced by Nick Heidfeld, and he admitted this win was particularly gratifying.
“If I have to be honest,” Pantano admitted, “when I passed the checkered flag, I said, ‘I’m the best!’. It was exciting!”
Pantano's epic charge at Silverstone won what is being regarded as the most exciting race in GP2 history. (LAT photo) » More Photos
Current GP2 championship leader Giorgio Pantano stormed to pole position for this weekend’s Hockenheim feature race this afternoon, taking two more bonus points to increase his lead to a season-high 13 points over Bruno Senna.
The 29-year-old Italian has been racing at this level since making his F3000 debut in 2001, apart from his abortive F1 campaign with Jordan in 2004, and at Silverstone he created history when he took his 14th victory at this level of racing, surpassing Mike Thackwell’s 13 wins in F2 and F3000, which had stood as the record since 1985.
His win came in what most people already regard as the greatest ever GP2 race, with continual wheel-to-wheel passing moves at the end of the race. Pantano admitted his veteran status gave him the key advantage.
“Yeah it was very good,” Pantano told SPEED’s Peter Windsor at Hockenheim. “I think the difference was made by (my) experience. We knew about tire problems we would have for such a long race, so I was trying not to push too hard at the beginning, and save them for the end.
You know, I was always close to (Bruno) Senna, (Romain) Grosjean and (Lucas) di Grassi. They were never far away from me, and then after the pitstop I was believing that I had the chance to win the race, and that’s what happened.”
Pantano’s tactics in the race concentrated on rear tire conservation, as they take the most loads and are normally the
“Normally I am trying to use one gear higher than when I am qualifying,” he said. “Where I would take second (in qualifying), I use third. Where I use third (in qualifying) I use fourth. I have the feeling with the rear, and when I see (the car sliding) just a little bit, I put it in the next gear, and I save the tires a lot.”
Pantano celebrates his momentous achievement. (LAT photo) » More Photos
Although he won the tactical battle, the Racing Engineering driver still had to pass his title rivals on the track for victory, something he enjoyed having to do. “It went quite well – it was fun for me,” he said. “I knew there was only one place (to pass), because Grosjean was closing the door quite a lot. But then I just say, ‘You have to open it, because otherwise I will open the door!’”
His late-race move on Lucas di Grassi for victory was rather easier for the eight-time GP2 race winner. “Di Grassi was easy, very easy. I think probably he had some problem with the car in the first sector because he was losing quite a lot of time” he said.
Having raced three seasons of F3000 and four seasons of GP2, Pantano has struggled to erase the paddock’s memories of his season with Jordan in Formula 1 back in 2004, when he was outpaced by Nick Heidfeld, and he admitted this win was particularly gratifying.
“If I have to be honest,” Pantano admitted, “when I passed the checkered flag, I said, ‘I’m the best!’. It was exciting!”
View All Comments
- Press Releases | Advertising | Jobs | Feedback | FAQ | Terms & Conditions | Privacy | Site Map
Fox Sports | FUEL TV | FX Network | FOXReality | National Geographic | IGN | AskMen | BeliefNet -
The Online Motorsports Authority© Copyright 2008 Speed Channel, Inc. All Rights Reserved.