Date:24/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/24/stories/2008032456131800.htm

Sport - Racing : Motor

Fisichella finishes 12th

Sepang: Switching to hard tyre helped Giancarlo Fisichella overcome a wobbly start and the Force India driver benefitted from Rubens Barichello’s drive-through penalty to gain five places and finish 12th in the Malaysian Grand Prix here on Sunday.

Fisichella’s teammate Adrian Sutil had no such luck and for the second Grand Prix running, the German youngster retired with a hydraulic snag on the fifth lap.

The Sepang International Circuit thoroughly tested Fisichella, who demonstrated the improved race pace of the VJM01, battling throughout with the midfield pack and setting a string of lap times just over one second from the leaders.

Starting 17th on the grid, the Italian had a poor start off the line, dropping down to 20th. By his first stop, Fisichella, however, graduated to 15th overall behind Barrichello. — PTI