Date:27/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/27/stories/2008092752872100.htm

Sport - Racing : Motor

Hamilton lights up first practice in Singapore

Massa second fastest, followed by Alonso
Rain stays away during the practice sessions

— Photo: AP

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: The lights and cameras are already in place; all that remains is for the cars to take to the streets when the first ever F-1 night race is held at Singapore.

SINGAPORE: McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton established himself as the man to beat at the Singapore Grand Prix by setting the fastest time under the lights in Friday practice. The overall championship leader clocked a best time of 1.45.518 in the first session around the 5.067 km downtown street circuit.

Hamilton is one point ahead of Ferrari’s Felipe Massa in the drivers’ standings with four races to go, and edged his Brazilian rival by less than a tenth of a second for best time over the two 90-minute sessions.

Renault’s Fernando Alonso had the best lap in the second session to be third quickest overall, ahead of Finnish duo Heikki Kovalainen of McLaren and Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen.

There was heavy morning rain on Friday but it held off for the practice.

Drivers got their first full-speed look at the city-state’s street circuit. Storms had lashed Singapore in the early hours, raising concerns about the perilous combination of rain, floodlights and an untested circuit.

However, the skies were clear when Italian Giancarlo Fisichella steered his Force India car out of the pitlane to start practice for Asia’s first street race.

Against the backdrop of Singapore’s stunning skyline, the skyscrapers framed by 1,600 light projectors along a track that winds through the business district and marina area, Hamilton, in the first practice, posted a time of one minute 45.518 seconds around the 5.067km track.

Brazilian Massa, a point behind Hamilton in the championship standings, was 0.080 slower.

Mishaps and misjudgements on an unfamiliar circuit were inevitable.

Australian Mark Webber became the circuit’s first casualty, his Red Bull ploughing into the barriers at the sharp lefthanded turn 18. Webber walked away unharmed and stood impassively as his car was hauled off the track by a crane. — Agencies