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The 25th run to the GP2 saw an unfortunate premature ending for Andreas Zuber
The 24-year-old Styrian was about to score points when he spun and had to retire
Andreas Zuber took up the first race in Valencia from fifth place. The Moser Medical Group-driver had an excellent start and it seemed that the 24-year-old Styrian would be able to move up during the first lap. But things turned out differently on the town circuit that had become slippery due to short rainfall in the beginning: "I had a super start and overtook Grosjean. But then I had to queue up behind my teammate Pastor Maldonado who hadn't had such a good start which was why Grosjean could pass me on the inside once more. It also was very wet at the start and during the first laps. That is why I slipped just once which enabled Senna to pass me", explains Andreas Zuber.
Subsequently the Piquet Sports-driver was able to secure sixth place but had to wrestle with his strongly oversteering car, especially in the fast turns - of which there are quite a lot on the town circuit. And shortly before the finish of the run a spin spelt the end of Andreas Zuber's Valencia-premiere.
"Ten laps prior to the chequered flag I got onto the dirty side of the circuit in a right turn - the rear of my car rear broke out and I ended up in the tyre stacks which caused the engine to stall. That's how it is with a town circuit: the smallest inattention can spell the end. But I do like the circuit, in fact. It isn't as difficult as many had supposed beforehand since there are many long straights where one can relax a bit. It was my first spin this year, in fact my first driving error. I am especially sorry for the team", says Andreas Zuber.
Bad luck was the lady of superior leader Giorgio Pantano when he ran out of fuel in the last lap, just two turns away from the chequered flag. For Piquet Sports it was light and shadows today. Andreas Zuber's teammate, Pastor Maldonado from Venezuela, reached second place which is why the team, and Andreas Zuber, are looking confidently forward to tomorrow's sprint race.
Result 1st run GP2 in Valencia
1. Vitaly Petrov (Rus/Campos) 1:03:25,719
2. Pastor Maldonado (Ven/Piquet Sports) +0,868 (fastest lap)
3. Romain Grosjean (Fra/ART) +4,447
4. Lucas di Grassi (Bra/Campos) +28,038
5. Jerome D'Ambrosio (Bel/DAMS) +28,736
6. Sebastien Buemi (CH/Arden) +28,855
7. Andy Soucek (Spa/Super Nova) +36,960
8. Luca Filippi (Ita/Arden) +45,390
Driver-overall ranking GP2 (after 15 of 20 runs)
1. Giorgio Pantano 67 points, 2. Bruno Senna 58 points, 3. Lucas Di Grassi 44 points, 4. Romain Grosjean 42 points, 5. Sebastien Buemi 37 points, 6. Pastor Maldonado 35 points, 7. Andreas Zuber 32 points, 8. Karun Chandhok 31 points
GP 2 program Valencia:
Sunday, August 24
10.30 - 11.15 2nd run over 23 laps (100 km)
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