Adrian
Sutil (car 20, VJM02/03):
17th: 55:58.426 (+1 lap)
Giancarlo
Fisichella (car 21, VJM02/01):
18th: 53:16.065 (+ 1 lap)
5
April 2009 - Torrential rain, biblical lightening
storms, a curtailed race and the first half-points
finish since the Australian Grand Prix 1991 will be
the footnotes for today's Malaysian Grand Prix. Due
to a monsoon-like downpour the race was suspended
on lap 31 and then ultimately brought to a premature
end just before 19:00hrs due to fading light conditions.
Force India's Adrian Sutil was classified 17th at
the finish and Giancarlo Fisichella 18th, however
the latter had unfortunately slid wide on the drenched
track just one lap before the race was halted.
The
race had started under ominously cloudy skies, but
conditions were dry until 30 minutes into the event.
Banking that the typical heavy rain would be imminent,
both Giancarlo and Adrian pitted for extreme wet tyres.
The downpour did not materialise however for a further
30 minutes, and when Giancarlo was just returning
to the pits to change for another set of wets he aquaplaned
off the circuit. Adrian did however change tyres but
was in the pits when the race was suspended.
The
team will now return to its UK base for a brief halt
before resuming its 2009 campaign in China in two
weeks.
(L
to R): Adrian Sutil (GER) Force India F1 with Dr.
Vijay Mallya (IND) Force India F1 Team Owner on the
grid. Formula One World Championship, Rd 2, Malaysian
Grand Prix, Race, Sepang, Malaysia, Sunday 5 April
2009. Photo Courtesy : ForceIndiaF1
Adrian
Sutil (car 20)
'When the rain started it was very difficult and just
about impossible to drive. We were in second or first
gear at 20kph and even then we were sliding around
the circuit. It was unbelievable, so it was a good
decision to stop the race. It was a bit of a shame
that it couldn't be restarted as I think we would
have had a good chance in the wet conditions. In the
end though it was too dark to restart. Looking forward
to Shanghai, I want to get another weekend with no
problems: let's improve our pace and look for some
downforce, and carry our momentum forward.'
