Thaindian News

Greater Noida, Oct 28 (IANS) Ferrari’s Felipe Massa topped the second practice of the Indian Grand Prix here Sunday as the drivers got used to the brand new track by doing extra laps than the first practice Friday morning.

Massa, who was seventh in practice one, emerged fastest in 1 minute 25.706 seconds. World Champion Sebastian Vettel maintained his second position ahead of Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who could do only four laps in practice One owing to a technical problem.

The lap times improved considerably during the day with the surface getting better for the tyres to grip. McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton was the fastest in the morning with 1:26.836 before being given a three-place grid penalty.

Sahara Force India’s Adrian Sutil and Paul di Resta set the seventh and ninth fastest time in the afternoon.

Virgin Racing’s Jerome d Ambrosio rammed into a barrier at turn 12 in the 51st minute, leading to the session being stopped briefly.

Seven times world champion Michael Schumacher, who managed 28 laps, spun his Mercedes going into turn three.

Williams’ Pastor Maldonado lost the rear end of the car at turn nine.

Hispania’s Narain Karthikeyan improved his best lap time to 1:32.824 from 1:34.113 in the morning.

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton clocked the fastest lap in the first practice.

However, he along with Sauber’s Sergio Perez, was later given a three-place grid penalty for the Sunday’s race for not slowing down at the required pace when the yellow flags were raised at the end of the session.

Karthikeyan and Karun Chanhdok made the most of the 90-minute session, doing 30 and 24 laps on a dusty surface where all drivers struggled to get grip on their tyres. Karthikeyan recorded 1:34.113 while Chandhok managed 1:32.487.

Hamilton set his best time of 1 minute 26.836 seconds in his last lap before being penalized by the FIA stewards. Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber were second and third fastest, clocking 1:27.416 and 1:27.428.

“Hamilton ignored double waved yellow flags at turn 16 whilst marshals were in close proximity to the track,” explained the FIA in a release. The penalties were handed to Hamilton and Perez after they were found violating the rules while Pastor Maldonado stalled his Williams at turn 16.

The timings of the session do not mean much as drivers focused on getting familiar with the brand new circuit.

(Bharat Sharma can be contacted at bharat.s@ians.in)