flintoff
01-06-2009, 09:06 AM
It was a season of what could have been. I know we have repeated this line but Karun Chandhok would be forgiven if he thinks that had it not been for some skewed luck, he would have achieved the goal he'd set prior to the season, a top five finish in the championship.
The 10-round GP2 championship started with Karun as one of the contenders. His win at Spa last year had put him in the league of the next in line for an FI seat. Add to that the presence of Force India and the thick friendship between Vijay Mallya and Vicky Chandhok, Karun knew this was his season of reckoning.
At the first official test of the new 08' GP2 car at the Paul Ricard circuit, Karun emerged as the fastest driver on the openŽing day. Driving for a new team, iSport, Karun was stepping into Toyota FI driver Timo Glock's shoes. Glock had won the championship last year driving for iSport.
As was the case last year, Karun was tentative at the start of the championship and didn't really set the time sheets on fire. At Barcelona, he was up to fourth place after starting from eight place in the opening lap itself, but then an untimely safety car intervention meant that Karun was behind Senna during the pit stop.
This dropped him to ninth place and out of points contention. In race two, after passing Saturday's race winner Alvaro Parente off the line, Karun was hit from behind by Honda FI test driver Luca Filippi, which brought his race to an abrupt end. At the driver's circuit in Turkey, Karun claimed important championship points by finishing in fourth place after starting from seventh. In the second race though Karun's car proved a handful and he finished outside of the points.
505
At the most unforgiving principality of Monaco circuit, Karun took third place. He made a good start getting past two cars on a circuit which is notorious for lack of overtaking chances. Chasing Mike Conway for third place, Karun was making a second on him every lap when Conway was taken out by Javier Villa. In the secŽond race though Karun was squeezed into the wall by Pastor Maldonado. The podium at Monaco couldn't have come at a better time for Karun because not only did it do his confidence a world of good, but more importantly with the who's who ofFI keeping a close eye on his progress, it brought Karun back in contention for the championship as well.
Karun could manage only seventh place in the first race at Magny Cours. More importantly, this put him on P2 for the Sunday race. Karun's engine bogged down on the damp track at the start which dropped him to the back of the pack.
From France the championship moved to Karun's adopted home in England. Starting tenth, Karun drove sublimelyto overtake six cars and finish the race
in third place. "That has to be my best race ever in GP2. Apart from Pantano we were faster than everyone," Karun said.
Halfway into the championship, Karun continued his string of podium finishes, going a step better at Hockenheim. After starting the sprint race from pole (Karun finished the feature race in eighth place), Karun lost his advantage to Lucas di Grassi at the start with a clutch problem. Running in a solid second place, Karun closed the gap and slipstreamed past the race leader at the Parabolika sweeper. Though he came under pressure from Andi Zuber, the Indian drove flawlessly to take his second GP2 win. Karun's drives at Hockenheim and Spa last year demonŽstrated his ability to take his chances and make his moves stick, which will definitely get him talked about in the right circles.
Carrying the momentum from Germany, Karun was among the fastest drivers in Hungary. Hefinished the first race in fourth place after dropping back to eighth. An electronic problem left him stranded on the grid in the second race. Despite this setback, Karun was in fifth place with three rounds to go. With a little bit of luck he could be within striking distance of a top three finish in the championship.
The 10-round GP2 championship started with Karun as one of the contenders. His win at Spa last year had put him in the league of the next in line for an FI seat. Add to that the presence of Force India and the thick friendship between Vijay Mallya and Vicky Chandhok, Karun knew this was his season of reckoning.
At the first official test of the new 08' GP2 car at the Paul Ricard circuit, Karun emerged as the fastest driver on the openŽing day. Driving for a new team, iSport, Karun was stepping into Toyota FI driver Timo Glock's shoes. Glock had won the championship last year driving for iSport.
As was the case last year, Karun was tentative at the start of the championship and didn't really set the time sheets on fire. At Barcelona, he was up to fourth place after starting from eight place in the opening lap itself, but then an untimely safety car intervention meant that Karun was behind Senna during the pit stop.
This dropped him to ninth place and out of points contention. In race two, after passing Saturday's race winner Alvaro Parente off the line, Karun was hit from behind by Honda FI test driver Luca Filippi, which brought his race to an abrupt end. At the driver's circuit in Turkey, Karun claimed important championship points by finishing in fourth place after starting from seventh. In the second race though Karun's car proved a handful and he finished outside of the points.
505
At the most unforgiving principality of Monaco circuit, Karun took third place. He made a good start getting past two cars on a circuit which is notorious for lack of overtaking chances. Chasing Mike Conway for third place, Karun was making a second on him every lap when Conway was taken out by Javier Villa. In the secŽond race though Karun was squeezed into the wall by Pastor Maldonado. The podium at Monaco couldn't have come at a better time for Karun because not only did it do his confidence a world of good, but more importantly with the who's who ofFI keeping a close eye on his progress, it brought Karun back in contention for the championship as well.
Karun could manage only seventh place in the first race at Magny Cours. More importantly, this put him on P2 for the Sunday race. Karun's engine bogged down on the damp track at the start which dropped him to the back of the pack.
From France the championship moved to Karun's adopted home in England. Starting tenth, Karun drove sublimelyto overtake six cars and finish the race
in third place. "That has to be my best race ever in GP2. Apart from Pantano we were faster than everyone," Karun said.
Halfway into the championship, Karun continued his string of podium finishes, going a step better at Hockenheim. After starting the sprint race from pole (Karun finished the feature race in eighth place), Karun lost his advantage to Lucas di Grassi at the start with a clutch problem. Running in a solid second place, Karun closed the gap and slipstreamed past the race leader at the Parabolika sweeper. Though he came under pressure from Andi Zuber, the Indian drove flawlessly to take his second GP2 win. Karun's drives at Hockenheim and Spa last year demonŽstrated his ability to take his chances and make his moves stick, which will definitely get him talked about in the right circles.
Carrying the momentum from Germany, Karun was among the fastest drivers in Hungary. Hefinished the first race in fourth place after dropping back to eighth. An electronic problem left him stranded on the grid in the second race. Despite this setback, Karun was in fifth place with three rounds to go. With a little bit of luck he could be within striking distance of a top three finish in the championship.