Sport - Racing : Motor   

More headaches for Narain Karthikeyan

CHENNAI SEPT. 2. Narain Karthikeyan, hampered by a severe headache from Friday's big crash and a rare pit-stop error by his TATA RC Motorsport team, failed to make an impact in either of the two races in the fifth leg of the Nissan World Series, at France's famed Magny-Cours circuit on Saturday.

The Indian ace, almost barred from the races because of head injuries suffered on Friday, finished 9th in the first race on Saturday and crashed out on lap 11 of the second race after an unusually long pit-stop ruined his chances of a podium finish.

Karthikeyan had suffered a massive shunt on the infamous Estoril Corner during Friday morning's free practice, crashing at 200-kmph and with 20-G force, and was unconscious for around three minutes.

His helmet had hit the steering rod and he had to be helped out of the car.

As a result, organisers were against him taking part in the qualifiers, but Karthikeyan, although suffering headaches, convinced them that he was fit to race.

Despite his condition, Karthikeyan managed to qualify eighth for the first race and an excellent sixth for the second. However, with his head still not right on Saturday, he wasn't able to perform during the races. The second race was marred by a 24-second pit-stop, which dropped him from around fifth to last.

``My head was hurting a lot and maybe that's why, in the first race at least, I wasn't able to do as well as I could,'' said Karthikeyan, whose TATA RC Motorsport teammate Peter Sundberg was unable to compete at all because of even more serious injuries suffered in a bigger crash at the same corner.

"Also, normally we are the best team when it comes to pit-stops, around seven seconds. But I think there was a bolt stuck in the rear wheel, which delayed it. When I came out I think I was last and then on the 11th lap, I crashed out while trying to fight another driver, and that was the end of my race. Overall, it was very disappointing.''

Karthikeyan will now travel to Derby in England to consult an army doctor who specialises in treating motor racing injuries. The next two races are at the Catalunya circuit in Spain on September 29.

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