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As it happened: Raceday at Fuji Speedway
By Geoff Creighton and Emlyn Hughes
The live commentary has ended. No further updates will be posted.
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OVERVIEW |
JAPANESE GRAND PRIX |
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CURRENT WEATHER |
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Overcast |
High Temp: |
16°C / 61°F |
Track: |
Dry |
ABOUT |
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Emlyn Hughes and Geoff Creighton are autosport.com's live commentary team. The dynamic duo have developed an inimitable style and a reputation for fast, accurate and insightful commentary. With unrivaled access to events unfolding at the circuit, they bring you the very latest, as it happens.
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Today we will be bringing you updates and news from the circuit in the build-up to the race and a look back at the qualifying hour, along with live text commentary of the race itself.
Click the SHOW LIVE FORUM link in the red bar at the bottom of your browser window if you'd like to join the debate.
A bright and sunny morning will gradually become cloudy and overcast as we move towards race time, but with air temperatures struggling to reach only 16 degrees Celsius under the clouds it will feel chilly in the open-air grandstands.
The cool ambient also causes concern for the teams and drivers as they attempt to generate tyre temperature during the event and get the rubber in its all-important operating window. The track temperature is currently hovering around 20 Celsius.
Indeed, the racing line was dry by the time qualifying commenced, although away from the line damp patches remained.
The three-tier knockout system often produces surprises and, yet again, there was a shock exit in the first 20-minute period as Nick Heidfeld could only manage a time of 1:18.835 to place 16th on the grid. The disappointed German later said that he found very little grip on the circuit, although his cause was hindered by sticking with the harder compound tyres for his last run - at a time when many of the drivers around him were going for the ultimate lap on the softer rubber.
Heidfeld was shuffled down the order as others improved. Joining him in the FIA weighing area after the first phase were both Honda drivers, Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button, as well as both Force India drivers, Adrian Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella.
The remaining drivers fought a terrific 15-minute battle for a place in the top ten shootout. Nelson Piquet admitted to making a mistake on each of his first two runs, leaving him little chance of making it through. The Renault driver was out, failing to make the cut by just under two-tenths of a second. Joining Piquet on the sidelines would be David Coulthard - out-qualifying his teammate Mark Webber in the Red Bull squad, along with Williams drivers Kazuki Nakajima and Nico Rosberg.
The situation quickly got worse as Heikki Kovalainen and Fernando Alonso split the Ferraris, plummeting title contender Felipe Massa down to fifth place. Robert Kubica drove well to claim six for BMW, with a lap including race fuel load that was under one tenth of a second slower than teammate Nick Heidfeld's best attempt in the opening phase. Toyota and Toro Rosso rounded out the top ten with Jarno Trulli seventh, Timo Glock eighth, Sebastian Vettel ninth and Sebastien Bourdais again qualifying well in tenth spot.
The Netz Cup cars are now locked in battle. This is a one-make series for road-legal 1500cc Toyotas - better known as the Yaris outside Japan.
Timo was on the pace from the word go, being at or near the top of the classification in all three practice sessions on Friday and Saturday morning.
As the top two teams and Fernando Alonso came to the fore, Glock slipped down the pecking order to eighth by the end of qualifying. The German later spoke to the press outside the Toyota motorhome and talked about his weekend.
“I think we had a good weekend so far and it was quite a good session I would say. It's not too bad for us – both cars in the top ten ... a bit disappointing from yesterday when we were quickest in free practice two, but this morning with the rain the whole rubber went away and it was a bit slippery this morning again and in qualifying and that cost us a bit of performance in qualifying three especially, and we struggled a bit in the qualifying three with the fuel load and the soft tyre.”
Tyre performance is critical this weekend and Glock is banking on the grip returning to the track surface, as the cars put rubber down during the race.
“Hopefully we will get some more rubber on the track tomorrow. That will definitely help and when it is nice and sunny it is another gain for us. We would have been a bit better without the rain this morning, but we have to take it like it is and get both cars in the points. Unfortunately Fernando is in front of us – we have to make the best out of it tomorrow.”
Looking ahead to today's 67-lap encounter, the 26-year-old could be forgiven for dreaming of a big result this weekend after such a strong performance earlier in practice.
“It would be a dream to be on the podium or even win the race, but this will be difficult," he said. "I think in the last week since I arrived I have been saying we have to have a good weekend, and so far it turned around quite well, and I will go on like that into tomorrow and the race and try my best, fight as hard as possible for all the fans here and for Toyota especially.”
This is the final race of the season for the 911 GT3 Cup field as they tackle 12 laps of the Fuji Speedway.
The double world champion has been on something of a points rush recently, scoring 25 points in the last five races - an upward trend that the Spaniard is very pleased with.
“Obviously, we had the performance also in Spa, in Monza and in Singapore, and the qualifyings always were wet or we had a problem in Singapore, so finally a normal qualifying was good for us and the fourth position is even a little bit better than we expected but obviously I'm extremely happy,” said Alonso.
“I think the team is used to winning. The engineers, mechanics ... they were here two years ago when we won the world championship so these guys, they need the feeling of success. You know after Singapore everyone was so excited and happy – we want more and more and hopefully we can win more races.”
Coming back to this weekend, Fernando explained how his qualifying session unfolded, and gave his teammate Nelson Piquet a vote of confidence.
“The car is good to drive, especially I think in the long run pace. We did improve the car a lot in the last couple of months. We saw today again – Q1, Q2 a little bit struggling and Q3 when we put the fuel on board the car seems to be a little bit better in terms of set-up, so happy for tomorrow's run.
“I think Nelson did a fantastic job here this weekend. In Q1 and Q2 maybe he was a little bit quicker than me, so it was a shame not to see him in Q3, but I think tomorrow he has a good starting point – maybe he can choose a different strategy and score points for the team, which is important. He's coming quicker and quicker and is obviously another rival for me.”
This afternoon, Alonso will be aiming to score points for the fourth race in a row. With just three races remaining, points are vital to Renault as they battle over fourth place in the constructors' championship against a strong Toyota outfit. Alonso looked ahead to the race, and spoke about his chances of mixing it with Felipe Massa.
Fernando said: “I thought that Felipe and Hamilton would probably be in the first row, both of them, but for whatever reason Felipe is fifth and I am fourth, so I am happy to be in front of one Ferrari but I think tomorrow in the race that will be much more difficult to keep him behind.”
Raikkonen looked all set to claim his first pole position since the French Grand Prix in June, but on the final run Lewis Hamilton surged to the top with a lap over two tenths of a second faster than the Ferrari driver.
Afterwards, a subdued Raikkonen spoke to the press in the paddock about his qualifying run.
"The car was not too bad for me but still not what we want, not what I want exactly, even with the issues what we still have we can be as fast as this so I know if it would be like we wanted we could be much faster," said Raikkonen. "Second place is better than it has been for a little while.
"It keeps changing (the issues), but for the new tyres and it turns out to be always better in the race, hopefully we can have the same tomorrow."
"We know that once we get the car exactly as we want, we have more than good chances to be all the time in the first places. It's a shame that we - it's a bit frustrating sometimes - when you know that it is not right and still you can be okay on the lap times but you know that once you get it right, it could be much better."
The world champion's candid words echoed loudly of a man who was less than pleased with his qualifying session, and clearly he had been aiming for pole position.
Immediately, thoughts turn to how much fuel the Finn actually has on-board his F2008. Time of course will tell, and the first stint of the race between McLaren and Ferrari now has an extra 'edge' to it, with Raikkonen the likely hare, aiming to get out front and control Hamilton's pace during the early laps, possibly bringing Massa more into play.
Raikkonen continued: "The race has usually been better for us, so hopefully tomorrow we can challenge for a win but we'll see what we can do. I'm interested to win the race, that's all, I'll see what I can do and of course we try to get the maximum points for the team and that's what we aim.
"We win if we can - it's not going to change our lives if we cannot win but of course we want maximum points, if you can win it's the easiest way to get them, so it would be perfect if we can win but it's too early to say, there is a long race ahead of us, in the last race, if I look, there is many things that can happen, so we'll do the best that we can and see."
The next action for the gathering large crowd to be entertained by is the drivers' parade, which begins shortly.
Around the circuit the sky is now filled with high, white cloud, with conditions now lightly overcast.
The parade centres around one of the world’s largest Japanese drums, which is being slowly wheeled along the pit straight. The drum measures 2.1 meters in diameter, 3.776 metres from its base, coinciding with the height of Mount Fuji at 3776 metres.
The performance is said to express the “Harmony” of Japanese culture and “Mount Fuji”.
Hamilton was happy with his day's work as he spoke with the world's media after the session.
"We showed that we have great pace so it has been good for us." he said. "The first lap I did in Q1 felt great, I think that the tyres weren't at the right temperature - the were over pressured so came in too quickly and went off too quickly. So then we changed those settings and went in Q2 and it wasn't very good, you know the lap felt a bit dodgy, the rear tyres dropped off again, so I wasn't feeling fantastic, I thought they (Ferrari) were very competitive and it was going to be tough to beat them in Q3.
"Every now and then sometimes you put fuel in the car and its a dog to drive and sometimes you put fuel in and it feels fantastic and it did today, the car felt good, felt strong, and didn't particularly have any moments during the lap so I was able to put all the sectors together - except the last one I think I lost a bit of time in turn 16.
"I think we've been very careful with strategy we choose so therefore we've not gone stupidly aggressive to put ourselves ahead, and it was really down to putting a good lap together and most of the lap went perfect, it was just the last corner, I missed the apex by a metre or so, I didn't lose that much time, I'm sure it was half a tenth or something but generally it was a great lap."
Tyres have once again been a crucial factor, with the rubber wearing quickly and graining for the early laps on new tyres. The well-known difference in tyre use between the Ferrari and McLaren will have influenced the qualifying result in favour of Hamilton, although Friday practice demonstrated that Ferrari will be strong in the race over a long run of laps.
Hamilton said: "The two tyres, I think the option tyre, the softer tyre, is the better of the two in terms of a short period of laps but the harder tyre seems to have a little bit less grip but is more consistent - less graining, less sliding - so we have to see."
Thoughts turned to the race and the fact that Lewis does not have to beat Kimi Raikkonen today, but he must finish and try to extend his advantage over Massa in the drivers' standings.
"Well, I'll never let anyone past," said Lewis with a smile. "If I'm out in front I'll push to win the race but, you know, if we, when the time comes, I guess we'll deal with it the best way I can and make sure whatever happens we finish the race in the points.
"Definitely a very good position for me and my teammate Heikki and I don't know what the reason for Felipe's fifth position but surely he - I can only assume he made a mistake or something - but he will be strong in the race."
With no rain expected, despite the overcast conditions, the big Mercedes will be leaving the grid five minutes before the formation lap, avoiding a repeat of last year's safety car start.
Sebastian was reasonably happy with his performance as he later explained: "It was initially quite difficult obviously. The track was very green after the rain last night, so it was difficult for all of us I think, but we made it to Q3 ... another one so that was very good."
Both Vettel and his teammate Sebastien Bourdais have made no secret in recent races that the STR3 reacts very differently to their input when fuel is added to the car for the third qualifying period.
Once again this was the case, as Vettel told the throng of reporters waiting outside the FIA weighing area after the session.
"In Q3 I think we were struggling, especially with the higher fuel load. The car didn't feel right 100 percent. I was struggling and did some little mistakes, but in the end the gap to the guy in front (Glock) was too big, so I don't know how they can refill their car and still do these fast laptimes, so we are wondering every time.
"With low fuel configuration we are always pretty close - only four tenths behind the top teams, but then obviously when you fill it up you see how good a car could be."
The 21-year-old Vettel has finished in the top six in each of his last four outings. Turning his attention to the race, he expects a tough afternoon in the cockpit.
"It will be a long race, 67 laps," he said. "I think it should be dry so it will be a tough race especially for the car, especially for the tyres so I think that will be the key success to survive ... keep the tyres in good shape. I hope we have a good strategy and then we see tomorrow - it will be a long and difficult race."
A 2.6 metre per second breeze is blowing as a head wind on the long straight.
The crowd is packed to capacity around the speedway, as the fervent Japanese crowd look ahead to a titanic battle in the race.
The entire allocation of tyres has been decorated in support of the FIA's 'Make Cars Green' environmental campaign, with the sets of Soft compound tyres having one white groove and the remainder green.
Hamilton and Raikkonen stop at their slots on the front row of the grid.
The field forms up behind them as the world anticipates the start of the race.
We await the lights ...
Lewis spins and is back underway last in the Japanese Grand Prix!
The Ferraris and Hamilton were very racy at the first corner on lap one and all outbraked eachother, allowing Kubica and Alonso to nip up the inside and take the top two positions in the race.
It was astounding action in the opening lap.
Kubica leads the race from Alonso, with Kovalainen third and Trulli fourth, but further down the order Bourdais is up from 10th to sixth, Piquet is up into ninth and Adrian Sutil has vaulted up the field from 19th to 11th.
Timo rejoins after a 13.6 second stop.
It is all over for the German and he is out of the race.
Alonso and Kovalainen run second and third, with Jarno Trulli in fourth after starting seventh and the Ferrari of Raikkonen all over the Toyota in the battle for fourth.
Adrian Sutil was up to a sensational tenth, but is retiring from the race with a punctured right rear tyre on the Force India.
He pulls off on the main straight and disconsolately walks back towards the garage.
Giancarlo Fisichella is the next to surge past Button and into 13th place, with Button 14th and Nico Rosberg directly behind the Briton in 15th place.
Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton.
Fisichella protects the inside and brakes very deep into the first corner, and somehow keeps hold of the position. Great defensive driving by the Italian.
The Williams is clearly faster though, and it is only a matter of time before Rosberg will pass him.
Behind these two there is a huge gap of over 16 seconds back to Mark Webber in tenth place, with a further seven seconds back to Nick Heidfeld in 11th.
Felipe Massa has been handed a drive through penalty for his contact with Lewis Hamilton on the second lap.
Sebastien Bourdais leads for Toro Rosso and is yet to stop. Nelson Piquet's Renault and Sebastian Vettel are in the same position as they run in the top three.
He resumes between Jarno Trulli and teammate Vettel in seventh.
A further ten seconds down the road, Lewis Hamilton is catching both of them in 14th position.
He goes wheel-to-wheel with Bourdais on the run out of the pits, holding the position to resume sixth.
Kimi Raikkonen runs third for Ferrari, 11.9 seconds behind the leader.
Massa's next target is Rubens Barrichello in 11th, 11 seconds ahead.
The Brazilian runs sixth with Bourdais seventh and his teammate Sebastian Vettel eighth.
Massa in 12th is now within eight seconds of Rubens Barrichello, but behind him Lewis Hamilton is also flying and has almost caught Jenson Button as they battle for 13th place.
There are now no cars separating the championship contenders, and the gap between them is eight seconds.
The gap between them is now 7.5 seconds.
He takes the softer tyre and fuel to the finish, rejoining tenth behind some of the other one stoppers - Heidfeld and Rosberg.
Massa quickly sets about the Red Bull driver and passes him on the main straight for that tenth position, which immediately becomes ninth with Heidfeld rejoining the fray.
Kimi Raikkonen is beginning to edge closer to the Pole and is now 4.4 seconds behind.
Felipe Massa is now in the points in eighth following the recent stops for those who were ahead of him. Mark Webber is now ninth, Nick Heidfeld is tenth, Nico Rosberg is 11th and Lewis Hamilton is almost 22 seconds behind Rosberg in 12th place.
Alonso surges by on the pit straight and remains in front of the BMW.
He is down and away ...
Massa sets another consecutive fastest lap with a 1:18.893.
Bourdais also pits and comes out of the pits in the path of Massa ... who makes contact with the Toro Rosso!
The Ferrari crew are out in the pitlane ready for Massa's final stop.
The pair battle spectacularly as Raikkonen takes advantage of the Ferrari's speed on the long straight. Robert holds him off ... for now.
The Felipe Massa, Sebastien Bourdais clash.
Lewis Hamilton is in 12th place, but is 31 seconds away from the points, and looks unlikely to add to his points tally today.
The next target for the Brazilian is Mark Webber in eighth place. The Australian is seven seconds up the road with just over seven laps remaining.
Massa is catching the Red Bull at almost two seconds per lap, and the gap between them is just 3.9 seconds.
Fernando Alonso leads into the last five laps by over 11 seconds.
Following his triumph in Singapore two weeks ago, Alonso cut through the chaos in the opening laps and surged by early leader Kubica at the first stop.
The Spaniard set an impressive pace at the front and is the deserving winner of a dramatic race in Japan.
Felipe Massa winds up eighth and nets one point, to cut the gap between himself and Lewis Hamilton in the championship race to six with two races remaining.
With both McLarens failing to score, Ferrari take a six point lead in the constructors' championship.
Giancarlo Fisichella retired in the pits.
Heikki Kovalainen suffered a suspected engine failure when third.
Adrian Sutil made a stunning start but retired with a right rear puncture.
Timo Glock retired in the pits after hitting debris.
David Coulthard crashed heavily on the opening lap but was unhurt.
Stick with autosport.com for further developments on this story.
"Well, we both got the same penalty but I didn't hit anyone, but he (Massa) did, I guess that's just the name of the game."
Lewis Hamilton speaking to British broadcaster ITV
The Japanese Grand Prix was shaped immediately at the start, as Kimi Raikkonen got a great launch, with polesitter Lewis Hamilton not enjoying the best of getaways. Heikki Kovalainen was also challenging at the first corner, and as they were all watching each other trying to gain track position, a late braking move from Hamilton saw them all sail straight on to the outside of the first corner. Felipe Massa had been playing it safe, minding his own business, but was on the outside and also went straight on. All four of them wide at the first corner - it was an astounding sight.
Robert Kubica and Fernando Alonso let the others have their fun, sneaking up the inside and taking first and second place. Meantime the chaos among the big four continued, with Hamilton and Massa colliding as they battled at turn 10 - an incident that compromised both their afternoons. Heikki Kovalainen recovered well and was looking good for a podium, but then he suddenly slowed, succumbing to suspected engine failure.
So, the way was left clear for Alonso and Kubica to fight over first, with Raikkonen doing his best to join in the battle. In the end Alonso was too strong for either of them, and drove magnificently to claim his second win on the trot, with Kubica second, scoring a valuable eight points in the championship race, and Raikkonen third.
Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton had terrible afternoons, but the gap between them is down to six points with Massa scoring the final point for an eighth place finish.
This was the Japanese Grand Prix weekend on autosport.com Live. We hope you have enjoyed the coverage this weekend, and don't forget that there is another event next weekend as the title race moves on to Shanghai for the Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix.