21/06/2009
NEWS STORY
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Pastor Maldonado has taken his second victory of the season this morning at Silverstone, leading from lights to flag despite race long pressure and a late safety car period to claim the win ahead of Andreas Zuber and Karun Chandhok.
The victory was set up at the start when poleman Zuber made a good start but Maldonado made a better one, slipping inside and through into Stowe before pulling away to build a strong lead that did not look in doubt after the first few laps.
Behind the front pair Lucas di Grassi stalled on the grid, leaving the rest of the field to cycle by as best as they could: Chandhok and Romain Grosjean had the advantage of being ahead of the Brazilian on the grid and slotting in behind the front pair, along with Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez, with the rest of the grid unable to challenge them off the line.
Unfortunately the grid then stretched out behind Maldonado, with cool heads matching the conditions and not looking to make too many silly moves. With 3 laps to go Dani Clos, who had earlier had a small coming together with Luiz Razia, lost the rear of his car before stalling after a spin in the middle of a corner, prompting a safety car period which lasted until the final turn of the race.
And so it was that Maldonado held on for the win from Zuber, Chandhok (who claimed Ocean Racing's first podium), Grosjean, Hulkenberg and Perez. The result means that Grosjean has extended his championship lead over Barwa Addax teammate Vitaly Petrov by 40 points to 33, with the ART pair all equal on 26 points, just two ahead of di Grassi.