Alonso’s Win at the Singapore Grand Prix
The latest Grand Prix race held on Sunday (28/09/2008) was packed with never-before-seen excitement and drama. Not only was this the first Grand Prix to take place in the colorful country of Singapore, but it was also the first time a Formula One race has ever taken place at night. In the end the outcome was anything but predictable and the race was wildly exciting for fans watching from all over the world.
The latest Grand Prix race held on Sunday (28/09/2008) was packed with never-before-seen excitement and drama. Not only was this the first Grand Prix to take place in the colorful country of Singapore, but it was also the first time a Formula One race has ever taken place at night. In the end the outcome was anything but predictable and the race was wildly exciting for fans watching from all over the world.
A number of the drivers may have been nervous about hitting the racetrack at night, fearful that bad visibility could’ve caused some nasty collisions. But in the end it seems that the demanding Marina Park circuit had enough spotlights to ensure that the drivers could see as clear as day. The excitement of the race was further emphasized by showers of sparks created by titanium skid plates as the cars made their way around the circuit. Initially it seemed Felipe Massa might claim the winner’s trophy yet again. He led from pole early on in the race and was driving well. Unfortunately his race was ruined at the start of the 20th lap when he pitted. The Brazilian was so eager to get back out on the track that he pulled away prematurely, taking the fuel rig and hose with him. By the time he was extricated from the situation by his crew, he had dropped to 18th place. To make matters worse, he was also given a drive-through penalty for his ‘unsafe release from a pit stop’, leaving many to wonder if he’d ever make it out last place. In the end he managed to climb up the grid a bit and finish in 13th place.
In the end it was Renault’s Fernando Alonso who took the victory, though even he hadn’t foreseen the victory. He started at 15th on the grid after a fuel pump failure during the qualifying rounds and his prospects looked grim. However, he managed to benefit from an early safety car period early in the race and from there it wasn’t long before he catapulted himself into the lead. The victory marks his 20th career win. It is also the first time that Alonso has won since he raced with McLaren at the Italian Grand Prix last year. Alonso was followed over the finish line by Nico Rosberg (Williams), while Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) finished third. Hamilton continues to lead the championship and has now gained further points over arch rival Massa.