12/04/2008
NEWS STORY
 |
Piquet Sports driver Marco Bonanomi snatched his first win in the 2008 GP2 Asia series in Dubai today, the season finale. However, second place was enough to see Sebastien Buemi crowned Vice Champion.
After a remarkably clean start in the last Sprint Race of the maiden GP2 Asia season, Milos Pavlovic kept the lead from pole position. But on the opening lap the Serbian has to retire after a problem with his oil pressure, leaving Jerome d'Ambrosio leading the race.
On the second lap however, Marco Bonanomi and Sebastien Buemi both overtook the Belgian DAMS driver.
Bonanomi began to pull away in the Piquet Sports car, while behind the top three, Trident Racing's Ho-Pin Tung tried to resist Petrov's sustained attacks: the Russian knew at that point that with Buemi in front of him, second place in the championship was out of his reach.
The Safety car was deployed on lap 5 after a crash involving the two DPR cars, along with Alberto Valerio and Ben Hanley.
At the restart, Bonanomi kept the lead while Buemi went a little wide, letting d'Ambrosio pass. However, the Arden driver quickly regained his position, while the DAMS driver was subsequently overtaken by Petrov.
What promised to be a great battle between Buemi and Petrov ended prematurely when the Barwa International Campos Team driver had to retire with a fuel pressure problem.
Marco Bonanomi crossed the finish line a winner for the first time in GP2 resisting Buemi's come back. The Swiss driver finished in second and was therefore crowned 2008 GP2 Asia Vice Champion.
DAMS Jerome d'Ambrosio finished third, scoring his second podium of the season, while Davide Valsecchi, Yelmer Buurman and Fairuz Fauzy completed the Top 6.
ART Grand Prix was crowned Champion Team yesterday. Trust Team Arden finished second ahead of Barwa International Campos Team.