08/09/2007
NEWS STORY
Giorgio Pantano (Campos Grand Prix) Winner - All the weekend is going perfect for me. We have a good feeling, I have a good feeling with Monza. The car was perfect today and I know I have just to go out from the first corner and try to push the maximum I can, and that's what I've done. Everything was perfect from yesterday and today and I hope also tomorrow. If we have this situation, this condition, there is a good chance to win also tomorrow. If I start in P8 the chance to overtake here is something we have. Its just we need the same condition like today and then we try to win also tomorrow and then score the maximum points I can. I know there is Timo and Luca in front tomorrow but we try.
Luca Filippi (Super Nova International) 2nd - Its very nice to back on podium…. especially in Italy! I wanted this podium very much, and I believe starting from 7th on the grid, P2 was the best position possible, knowing how quick Giorgio is! I started in P7 today and will again for tomorrows sprint race, so I'll try and do the same again! The car is really good, but I think we can go even quicker tomorrow!
Timo Glock (iSport International) 3rd - That race showed the whole way of the season. It was up and down and after the start when I had to go through the gravel, I was P20 after the first lap. I couldn't believe it. It was bad luck, but in the end we decided to pit under safety car, and when we went out the safety car came in so we didn't win anything and just lost more time than anything. The only luck we had was with the second safety car, but before that for two laps I thought about finding the exit of the track, driving the car to Germany and having a beer at home. I couldn't believe it. Lucas was second and on the way to scoring more points and take the championship lead again. And after two laps I thought, OK we have to fight back as hard as we can, like the whole year, and it's what I did. I was P9 after the second safety car and then I was only behind Senna and all these guys who were fighting hard. I stayed behind and waited for the mistakes and overtook them after. At the end I was P4 and with the luck at the end in the last couple of laps when Lucas had a problem with his car, I opened the gap in the championship again. I think it's maybe a bit equal now. We had six races without a point and now he's had the bad luck. It's good for us and our championship.
Bruno Senna (Arden International) 4th - It was a bit of a crazy race today with three safety cars but I managed to have a pretty clean race, although I did have some close fights with a few people! I'm happy with the result and it wasn't a bad effort. The car was a lot better today than before and the team did a good job to make the car good. It was competitive and consistent throughout the race, and as soon as I got some clean air I had a really good pace. Tomorrow I'll have more confidence in the car so I'm looking forward to the race for sure.
Javier Villa (Racing Engineering) 6th - I made a good start and was running 9th but some cars in front made contact and I lost some place trying to avoid them. I took advantage of the Safety Car to make my pitstop. I lost some positions behind the second Safety Car deployment when Tung braked heavily in front of me and two other drivers took advantage. I continued to push to the end and I finished 6th in a hard race, I'm hoping for a good race tomorrow.
Ricardo Risatti (Trident Racing) 8th - I have to admit that the first race didn't really have a good start, since I lost time by spinning at Ascari. Then I managed to get back up to speed, seeing my confidence with the car increase lap-by-lap. Though, it hasn't been an easy task due to the huge battle started right after the three safety-car periods. I'm happy both for my first point in GP2 and for tomorrow's pole spot. I count to work with our technicians to improve our set-up for Race 2.
Jason Tahinci (FMS International) 11th - I couldn't do anymore than I did today and there are things to learn but at least I am improving all the time now. I lost a lot of time making a few little mistakes before I pitted. Then when I left the pitstop my new tyres needed bedding in and warming up, so I lost another chunk of time there. Luckily there were a few safety cars, which helped us. I felt I was quicker than the group in front of me, but I couldn't get close enough to try to pass them. I want to bring a point home soon and I'm starting 11th tomorrow, which isn't a bad place, so let's see what happens.
Adam Carroll (FMS International) DNF - It hasn't been the best day; I think this is a bad track for me because I've never finished a race here. The first thing that went wrong was the pitstop. I dumped the clutch when the lollipop moved, but there was traffic in the pitlane so we had to stop and the car stalled. I was in the pits twenty seconds longer than I should have been so the problems started there. I pushed as hard as I could after that, I literally couldn't go any faster but at least the car was consistent. What happened next was really unfortunate. After the restart of the second safety car I got a good run on a few cars in front. I was trying to get past Buemi to get a tow from the cars in front, and as I tried to pass the rear end came round and there wasn't anything I could do to get it back. I'm starting 19th tomorrow which isn't great, but I'll just try my best like I always do, and see what we can get from it.
Kohei Hirate (Trident Racing) DNF -I'm so disappointed for how my race ended up today. I made a great start, that allowed me to challenge the top-10 drivers at the first chicane. Unfortunately, Conway's car spun right in front of me, forcing me to stop completely. Then, after the pit-stop, I rejoined in front of the leaders. I gave all the possible room for passing, but once at Roggia I suddenly felt a bump in the right rear quarter and I realized that Buemi had hit me. It's a pity, because in that place I really had nowhere to go, and I would have let him pass right at the exit.
Mike Conway (Super Nova International) DNF - I didn't get the best start, and then in between turns one and two a Durango car hit me from behind. Zaugg then spun in front of me, & forced me wide. I tried to get going again, but on the kerb the engine stalled and disappointingly that was the end for me. Starting from the back will be difficult tomorrow, but I'll just have to see what happens.
Marcos Martinez (Racing Engineering) DNF - I wasn't able to start due to a mechanical failure in the gearbox stopped the car on the grid. I will be starting last tomorrow.
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