CCYoshi's 'And Now For Something Completely Different' Race Report: Imola
Now with more focus on YOU, the pathetic/incredibly awesome individual.
GTP F1 S7 Imola Grand Prix Champion: Blake Haswell, Renault
-Great pit stop timing during the 2nd safety car and a strong drive overall leads him to what I believe is his first win back. (after a skipped season 5 and a mediocre season 6) Didn't even have to do much passing out on the track.
Silver Medal: Dan Bathie, Toyota
Toyota is back...? Bathie is on the board with a 2nd consecutive strong points finish, and the red and white car (no, not the Aguri) was out in front for a couple laps this race. A throttle issue hurt him - could he have taken the win if not for that glitch?
Bronze Medal: Luke Mason, BMW
2 straight 3rd-place finishes - impressive! But yet another could've, should've, would've day with the mechanics whipping out some dismal pitstops.
Points Scorers:
4th - Whitcomb, Renault (Nothing to report. Note that all his finishes have resulted in points)
5th - Hutchinson, Ferrari (Led a lap, on a one-stopper. Driver error and techincal glitches marred his pace.)
6th - McLaren, McLaren (A three-stop strategy resulted in some points. Scored in every race he's finished - all 2 of them...)
7th - Smith, Midland (As high as 4th, but overall a very midfield race. Tangled with Kawasie, but seemed to be near pit deadline anyway)
8th - Chang, Honda (A valiant fight, overcoming a tangle with Kawasie - again - to score his first point of the season. About time!)
Casualty Report:
Orchard, Domingues (Lap 5): Got into a spatial argument over 13th place - both lost. SC brought out.
Dubois (Lap 20): Running a good race, up into podium position...Paajanen gets too enthusastic passing and shunts the Aguri into the barriers. Leads with 3 retirements in 4 races. SC came out again.
Horton (Lap 28): The worst kind of retirement - when it's your fault. Spun off at Villenueve chicane from 2nd place.
Little (Lap 37): Wrecked at Variante Alta from P16.
Beyens (Lap 39): Just when things were going well! Spun off and wrecked at Variante Alta from the lead - perhaps from debris left by Little 2 laps ago.
Davidson (Lap 46): Bobbled Tosa corner and went for a wild ride. Retired from P8.
Paajanen (Lap 52): Running in the points (4th), was claimed by the mysterious chicane with no name.
Taylor (Lap 53): Victim of Kawasie's wrecking spree.
Machiels (Final Lap): Half a lap to go, overshot Tosa and watched 5 points dissapear into the sunset.
Ideiot of the Race: Yuuji Kawasie
Just like the namesake, eh? A common, ordinary point-scrounging Aguri gone postal halfway through the race. Caused 3 collisions - 2 spins and one retirement, while only losing time once.
Defining Moment: Machiels wrecking on the last lap
Just like the 9 others who had came before him, and left in pieces (all over the track). Many points contenders had their hopes dashed early and late this race...certainly the action is picking up!
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