Date:23/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/23/stories/2008052352711900.htm

Sport - Racing : Motor

Hamilton sets the pace

MONACO: Briton Lewis Hamilton dominated Thursday’s second practice session for Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix.

Hamilton’s time in the afternoon session was the quickest of the day and gave the McLaren driver encouragement for Sunday’s 66th running of the showpiece event.

Hamilton dominated the practice early on before Williams driver Nico Rosberg of Germany switched to softer tyres midway through the session and recorded a time of 1:15.533 eclipsing Hamilton momentarily.

Rosberg was quickest for ten minutes before Hamilton also switched to softer Bridgestone rubber and posted a time of 1:15.140, beating the Williams’ time by almost four tenths of a second.

Rosberg was able to hang on to second place ahead of Ferrari duo, defending champion, Finn Kimi Raikkonen, and Brazilian Felipe Massa, with Heikki Kovalainen of Finland fifth in the second McLaren.

Renault driver Fernando Alonso of Spain managed to finish seventh despite damaging his car at Saint Devote.

In the first practice run, Raikkonen edged Hamilton to the fastest time.

Force India’s Giancarlo Fisichella, preparing for his 200th GP, had a placing of 16th and 10th respectively in the two runs. — Agencies