Jean Alesi won the first Speedcar Series race of the weekend at the Bahrain International Circuit.
The Frenchman, who started second on the grid was joined on the podium by Heinz Harald Frentzen in second position and Johnny Herbert in third.
Heinz Harald Frentzen had a bad start and left the door open for Alesi to go through and take the lead. Johnny Herbert and Gianni Morbidelli also took the opportunity to slip past, leaving Frentzen in fourth.
Season 1 champion Johnny Herbert was defending his line and position while Gianni Morbidelli stayed on his tail pushing him hard on every turn. In a three-way battle Morbidelli was punted out of the way by Frentzen who gained a position to third place. By the 5th lap The German had gained ground on Herbert and with a clever inside move, got the better of him. For the rest of the race, Alesi, Frentzen and Herbert maintained the top 3 positions.
Canadian Jacques Villeneuve endured a tough race. "I took an unbelievable start from 10th, passing people right and left. I arrived in the first corner in 4th place. But in corner 2, Tonio Liuzzi missed his braking and hit me hard at the rear."
'The car was awful to drive after the impact and the throttle was sticking wide open. Braking was very difficult, as I had to press the brake pedal with both feet in an attempt to slow down the car. It was hard to make it to the finish."
Preliminary Classification Race 1
Pos Driver Team Laps Time / Gap
1 J. Alesi HPR 19 40:37.701
2 H. Frentzen Team Lavaggi 19 1.409
3 J. Herbert JMB 19 14.841
4 G. Morbidelli Palm Beach 19 22.510
5 H. Al Maktoum UP Team 19 24.050
6 T. Biagi Palm Beach 19 24.975
7 D. Pasini JMB 19 49.126
8 G. Lavaggi Team Siram 19 63.625
9 C. Buncombe Team Lavaggi 19 64.026
10 J. Villeneuve Durango 19 80.766
11 E. Charles Continental Circus 19 1 LAP
Not Classified
M. Lee HPR 11 DNF
V. Liuzzi UP Team 9 DNF
C. Zoechling Durango 0 DNS
E. Panacci Continental Circus 0 DNS
photo:Speedcar Series
The Frenchman, who started second on the grid was joined on the podium by Heinz Harald Frentzen in second position and Johnny Herbert in third.
Heinz Harald Frentzen had a bad start and left the door open for Alesi to go through and take the lead. Johnny Herbert and Gianni Morbidelli also took the opportunity to slip past, leaving Frentzen in fourth.
Season 1 champion Johnny Herbert was defending his line and position while Gianni Morbidelli stayed on his tail pushing him hard on every turn. In a three-way battle Morbidelli was punted out of the way by Frentzen who gained a position to third place. By the 5th lap The German had gained ground on Herbert and with a clever inside move, got the better of him. For the rest of the race, Alesi, Frentzen and Herbert maintained the top 3 positions.
Canadian Jacques Villeneuve endured a tough race. "I took an unbelievable start from 10th, passing people right and left. I arrived in the first corner in 4th place. But in corner 2, Tonio Liuzzi missed his braking and hit me hard at the rear."
'The car was awful to drive after the impact and the throttle was sticking wide open. Braking was very difficult, as I had to press the brake pedal with both feet in an attempt to slow down the car. It was hard to make it to the finish."
Preliminary Classification Race 1
Pos Driver Team Laps Time / Gap
1 J. Alesi HPR 19 40:37.701
2 H. Frentzen Team Lavaggi 19 1.409
3 J. Herbert JMB 19 14.841
4 G. Morbidelli Palm Beach 19 22.510
5 H. Al Maktoum UP Team 19 24.050
6 T. Biagi Palm Beach 19 24.975
7 D. Pasini JMB 19 49.126
8 G. Lavaggi Team Siram 19 63.625
9 C. Buncombe Team Lavaggi 19 64.026
10 J. Villeneuve Durango 19 80.766
11 E. Charles Continental Circus 19 1 LAP
Not Classified
M. Lee HPR 11 DNF
V. Liuzzi UP Team 9 DNF
C. Zoechling Durango 0 DNS
E. Panacci Continental Circus 0 DNS
photo:Speedcar Series