Greater Noida, October 28
Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull Racing set a scorching pace to make it a virtual one-horse race to bag his second successive title here in the Indian Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit today. The German opened up a big lead from the outset to put himself in a buffer zone to post a time of 1 hour, 31 minutes and 10.744 seconds in the 60-lap scorcher of a race, which left his opponents far behind.

Though at one stage it looked as if Red Bull would make it a one-two with Mark Webber giving a good chase to Vettel, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso sped past Webber at the 43rd lap to take the second position at 1:31:20.181. Webber finished third, clocking 1:31:23,961.

Alonso, who was just six points behind Vettel in the Drivers’ Championship race before the Indian Grand Prix, now trails by 13 points at 227, with Vettel on 240. Kimi Raikkonen, despite finishing seventh today, has maintained his third position at 173 while Webber is fourth at 167. Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button took the fourth and fifth places to be at the fifth and sixth position in the Drivers’ Championship table.

Red Bull are also almost assured of the Constructors’ Championship crown as they have enhanced their points tally to 407, to be far ahead of the second-placed Ferrari (316). McLaren and Lotus are third and fourth with 306 and 263 points, respectively.

Today, everything else paled before Vettel’s magnificent show as he drove his Renault with absolute control to storm to the top of the podium. It was his fourth successive victory, and he now looks ahead at the Abu Dhabi GP to race far ahead to ensure his third Drivers’ Championship trophy in a row, though Alonso has vowed to catch up with him. After ending 5th in qualification, Alonso showed perseverance and pace to zip past Webber. In 2011, India was Vettel’s ninth and final victory of the season, though he had wrapped up the championship two races earlier in Japan. This year, he came here after sweeping the Singapore, Japan and South Korean GP titles.

“I am very, very happy to win here for the second time,” Vettel said. He said his strategy was to keep focus on the moment, not thinking behind, or thinking ahead. It was a perfect weekend for Vettel as he was the fastest in every session, qualifying and the race. It was the first time in the German’s career that he has won four races in a row.

Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg had a satisfying race, taking the 8th place with a time of 1:32.05.742, while teammate Paul di Resta ended up 12th. Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher of Mercedes made up the rear, starting on grid 7, and will face an enquiry for ignoring the blue flag. His teammate Nico Roseberg had better luck as he finished 11th, though their team struggles at the fifth place in the Constructors’Championship race.

Narain Karthikeyan’s HRT had nursed some hope of getting ahead from the rear in the 17th race of the season, but their race did not pan out the way they had wished. Overheating of the brake impeded the progress of Karthikeyan and his hope of finishing above the 21st place was dashed in front of the home fans. He posted 1:32:15.745 while teammate Pedro de la Rosa could not finish the race.

Despite the fact that Karthikeyan and Rosa got off to a good start, the Spanish driver moving up to the 17th, the overheating of the brakes was detected on the third lap, and both drivers had to cede ground to control the temperature of the brakes and complete the 60 laps. But Rosa’s brakes failed with 15 laps to go.

Greater Noida, October 28
Sebastian Vettel was all praise for the Buddh International Circuit after his second consecutive title victory in the Indian FI Grand Prix here today.

“It’s a very positive track, very easy to manage the tyres,” he said. Vettel, along with the rest of the top 10 qualifiers, started on soft tyres before switching to hard ones on lap 33 in a one-stop strategy, without losing the lead. This was the strategy adopted by all the finishers. Fernando Alonso of Ferrari had taken his pit stop four laps earlier. He got to the runners-up place with ten laps to go, as the tyres proved true to his gameplan. However, McLaren’s Button completed the longest final stint on hard tyres, lasting 35 laps, which took him to the fifth place. And the Pirelli tyres, making their F1 debut here, proved a dependable part.

Vettel said his fourth successive win was achieved after hard efforts, and his strategy was to take each race “step by step”. “Our team did a fantastic job. We had a fantastic race. We had no problem in any area. We prepared as much as we could.” Alonso warned that the championship race was not yet over. “I feel very optimistic, but we are not fast enough,” he noted.

Drivers' Standings: (After 17 of 20 races); 1 S Vettel, Red Bull, 240 pts, 2 F Alonso, (Ferrari) 227, 3 K Raikkonen (Lotus) 173, 4 MWebber (Red Bull) 167, 5 L Hamilton (McLaren) 165.

Greater Noida, October 28
Force India team principal and managing director Vijay Mallya was delight that his team finished among points.

“I am delighted to see Sahara Force India score points at our home race for the second year in a row. After qualifying, we knew we had a big task ahead of us, but Nico (Hulkenberg) rose to the challenge and raced well to finish in eighth place. It means we have scored points in the last six races—that’s every race since the summer break”, Mallya said.

He said these points were important for the team’s fight for the constructor’s championship. “We will continue to push very hard in the remaining three races”, he added. He was also satisfied with Paul Di Resta’s show. “ Paul also battled hard in the race, moving up four places, but it was difficult for him to challenge for points in the end. Overall, it has been another great Indian GP.”

Hulkenberg said he did not get the best getaway at the start, “but I had a good first lap, and was able to overtake Rosberg on the back straight and Maldonado, going in to turn four.”

“The middle path of the race was quite lonely for me because I was running in clean air, but towards the end, Grosjean was very close behind me, and pushing me hard. But I didn’t crack under pressure. I kept him behind, and we made the one-stop strategy work”, the German said.

Greater Noida, October 28
In the adrenalin rush of the Indian Formula One Grand Prix practice and qualifying races, the brilliant runs of the Indian drivers in the JK Racing Asia Series, particularly the third and second place finish of Aditya Patel, got relegated in to background.

The event was held at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) here for the first time, and seven Indian drivers were on the grid, from just one driver last year. These events are the backbone of Indian motor sports’ foray into the big league, but the Indian FI GP got a rather lukewarm response this year, barring the challenge round today, as the BIC track was locked up for one year after inaugural GP, when almost one lakh people had turned up to watch the final races.

For motor sports to pick up among the Indian fans, regular events needed to be hosted at the BIC, which will widen the fan base. If the BIC hosts more go-carting and National Racing Championships, it will encourage youth to pursue motorsports as a hobby or a career. The racing tracks at Chennai and Bangalore are big hits with fans as more events are held on these tracks year round. 

Greater Noida, October 28
Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone today lauded the organisers of the Indian Grand Prix for improving the facilities and also termed the Buddh International Circuit as one of best in the world.

"From what we saw last year, it has been a massive improvement. The good thing is that when there is something wrong they don't run away and hide. They put it right," the F1 boss, who celebrated his 82nd birthday told reporters. Last year close to one lakh people had thronged the BIC to watch the inaugural F1 race in the country but this year just over 50,000 people are in attendance. Ecclestone said it was nothing to worry about as it is the case all around the world. However, he said if attendance does not improve in the third year, it will be a concern. "No. first is always high, second it goes down. Third year is what is important, if it does not go up that is something to worry," he said.

Asked how India is seen as an F1 host, Ecclestone said, "The world knows India. It's (circuit) one of the best in the world. We are lucky to have big budgets in Asia."

New Delhi, October 28
Senior off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on Sunday joined teammate Virat Kohli in endorsing the idea of preparing turning wickets for the upcoming Test series against England, saying there is nothing wrong in exploiting the home advantage.

Harbhajan, who is eyeing a comeback into the Indian Test squad in the upcoming four-Test series, said a complete whitewash would be an ideal revenge for the Indians, who suffered a 0-4 humiliation against England in the away series last year. "A 4-0 scoreline (in India's favour) would be a good score. We are playing at home, so naturally we will use our experience and conditions. There is no harm in it," Harbhajan said on the sidelines of the second Indian Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida.

Kohli had also recently supported the idea of preparing turning tracks for the England series. Harbhajan, however, feels that Keven Pietersen's return to the team is a big bonus for England going into the series starting November 9. "KP's coming back into the team is good for England. His presence will make England stronger," said the feisty bowler, who was here with his long-time girlfriend actress Geeta Basra as Ferrari guests. Talking about F1, Harbhajan said he is a big Ferrari and Fernando Alonso fan."I have always been a big Ferrari supporter. Alonso is my favourite driver. I have been to Ferrari's garage, met staffs and drivers last year as well," he said. He was full of praise for the Indian GP and said the event has only helped in raising India's profile as a sporting nation. "The Indian GP is a big event. It's a proud moment for India," Harbhajan said. Harbhajan Singh met Ferrari's Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa at the Buddh International Circuit during the 2012 Indian Grand Prix in Greater Noida on Sunday. The off-spinner shared a picture of him with the Brazilian racer on the social networking site Twitter.

India can top in ICC T20 rankings

India has the chance to go atop the ICC Twenty20 rankings if they blank England in the upcoming T20 internationals at home and a few other international results go their way.

As many as seven T20Is, featuring most of the top-ranked sides, are confirmed to be played across the globe before the turn of the year, and, if Sri Lanka lose in Pallekele, then there can be a change at the top of the table on at least two occasions, the ICC said. Sri Lanka, the ICC World Twenty20 finalist, will start as the number-one ranked side on the ICC T20 international championship table while New Zealand, which lost two ICC World Twenty20 Super Eight stage matches in Super Overs, will begin in eighth position. While a win will ensure that Sri Lanka will end the year as the number-one ranked T20 international side, a defeat for Sri Lanka will give ICC World Twenty20 champion West Indies a sniff of the number-one position on the ICC Championship table for the first time since the launch of the current system in 2011.

New Delhi, October 28
Olympics bronze medallist Saina Nehwal failed to clinch back-to-back title as she suffered a shock straight-game defeat to Japanese Minatsu Mitani in the summit clash of the French Open Super Series here today.

Playing her second final in two weeks, world number three Saina could not live upto expectations against 21-year-old Minatsu and lost 19-21,11-21 in the 39-minute women's singles final.

Saina, who won the Denmark Super Series Premier title last week, was tested only for the second time in the tournament by world number 26 Minatsu, who rode on her superior court coverage and accurate strokes to clinch her first Super Series title.

Minatsu, who jumped a couple of places in world rankings on Thursday, matched Saina with her brilliant net play and smashes and engaged the Indian in long rallies. She was also good in her defense as she retrieved everything thrown at her. Saina started off well and initially opened up a narrow 6-3 lead but Minatsu slowly built her game and moved from 7-7 to 16-16 to keep breathing down the Indian's neck.

The 22-year-old from Hyderabad picked up a couple of points to move to 18-16 but the Japanese reeled off four straight points from 17-19 to to win the first game.

In the second game, Saina tried to exploit Minatsu's weakness at the fore court and played some angled shots to move to 5-2. But Minatsu engaged Saina in long rallies and used her drops and cross court smashes to catch up with the Indian, before moving into the break at 11-10 with another brilliant smash.

She grabbed four more quick points to move to 15-10. Minatsu made Saina move around the court by mixing her shots, while the Indian faltered with her accuracy and lost a few points hitting wide or due to misjudgement. In no time, Minatsu zoomed to match point at 20-11 and with Saina finding the net, it was all over for the Indian. — PTI