Sebastian Vettel wins Indian GP, stretches title lead over Alonso

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel sealed his second successive Indian Grand Prix title and fourth consecutive win of the season at the Buddh International Circuit here today.
Starting the race from pole, defending champion Vettel (1:31:10.744) dominated the entire race, finishing in
1:28.723, almost nine seconds ahead of second-placed Ferrari's Fernando Alonso (1:31:20.181) and also stretched his Formula One  championship lead over Alonso to 13 points
with three races remaining.
Red Bull team mate Mark Webber (1:31:23.961) crossed  the chequered flag as the third car. McLaren's Lewis Hamilton (1:31:24.653) finished fourth.
"It has been incredible to come here consecutively  for two years and get the pole and win the race. I am very happy, it’s a very special grand prix, I really like the flow of it. We all enjoy it.
"Big thanks to the team, everyone pushed very hard.  All of us work hand in hand together, everyone is pushing hard. I am glad to be part of it and enjoying the moment," the 25-year-old German said after clinching the winning trophy.
Alonso said,"It’s not easy to fight with Red Bull  but we will never give up and we are happy today we have to congratulate them. Well done Red Bull, well done Sebastian but we will do it."
"We lost points but this weekend this was the plan, we lost the minimum points. We were fast in the straight line but we’re  still missing grip in the corners. Today I have to thank to team for the speed in the overtaking
manoeuvres."
Nico Hulkenberg (1:32:05.742) of Sahara Force India finished 8th while Paul Di Resta (1:32:33.559) returned pointless at 12TH.

"I am very happy with the result today and I think eighth was about the maximum that was possible. It was a great team performance and I'm feeling satisfied with what we achieved today," Nico said after the event.
His team-mate Paul said: "It was quite a tough afternoon, but I think that we achieved all we could from
the race because  I couldn't get any more out of the car today. I drove as hard as I could and was pushing all the way."
"We were in the hunt battling with Rosberg and Senna, but I didn't really get close enough to challenge them. To be honest I have struggled to find the ideal balance with the car all weekend."  
Vettel has 240 points to Alonso's 227, with Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus (173) and Webber (167) with only a
mathematical chance.
McLaren's Lewis Hamilton (165) and Jenson Button (141) are now officially out of the title race after coming fourth and fifth, respectively.
Record champion Michael Schumacher suffered a rear puncture in the first lap which sent him to the Mercedes pit, saw him lapped by Vettel in lap eight, and retire in the 57th lap amid in investigation of ignoring blue flag orders.
Sergio Perez, who is to take the place of Marcedes-bound Hamilton at McLaren, ruined his race with a puncture on his Sauber because he did not give enough way when he attempted to overtake the Toro Rosso of Daniel Ricciardo.
The next race is on November 4 in Abu Dhabi, where Vettel won his first world title in 2010 ahead of Alonso in what was then the season finale.

Sebastian Vettel on pole, flop show by Force India

Formula One leader Sebastian Vettel took pole position for the Indian Grand Prix, edging out Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber by just 0.044 seconds at the Buddh International Circuit here today.
Vettel, who has dominated the proceedings all weekend, clocked 1 minute 25.283 seconds in this afternoon's one-hour qualifying session.
It was Vettel's second successive pole in India, his fifth of 2012 and the 35th of his Formula 1 career.
''It could have been faster here and there,'' said the 25-year-old German, but with title rival Fernando Alonso qualifying fifth Vettel, has a McLaren Mercedes cushion in the shape of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, who occupy the second row.
Still, Vettel isn't taking much comfort from that position: ''Today is obviously a good result for us, 1-2,'' he said, ''but tomorrow is the main exercise with the race. The McLarens were very quick in long runs yesterday as well as the Ferraris, so I think it will be a close race.''
Asked if he should now be calling Buddh his home circuit since he seems so comfortable here, Vettel answered: ''It's a bit far away from my home country, but I liked the circuit from the first practice session last year. It was very special to be the first winner here in India and to do it again this year is obviously the target.''
Second in qualifying for the fourth time this season, Webber was philosophical about the tiny margin between him and his teammate.
''It was a good, tight-run thing between us, only half a tenth,'' said the 36-year-old Australian. ''I was surprised to be second, to be honest, so I’ll take that.''
Hamilton was relaxed about not being on the front row.
''I am just looking forward to a race where we don't have any issues, one where we can fight for position and get some good points,'' said the 2008 World Champion, whose chances of a second title have faded over the last two races in which he finished only fifth and 10th.
Asked about a little moment he had in Turns 5 and 6, Hamilton was quick to pay tribute to the circuit: ''This track is incredibly challenging for all of us,'' he said, ''and the more we drive it the more we realise that. It's a great circuit, it takes a lot of focus, it takes a lot to try and get a perfect lap together.
''That’s a corner where you're pulling a lot of g-force and put a lot of load on the tyres; if you just touch the kerb you have an oversteer moment, but you're always trying to gain time through there because it's an important part of the circuit.''
HUMOROUS
There was a humorous moment in the post-qualifying press conference when a question was rasied to Vettel about him patting his Red Bull car like a horse after victory in the earlier race. The questions was ''In his passion for racing, did he see it as a living creature rather than a machine?''
'First off, the car is not a horse,'' laughed Vettel. ''Sometimes you might lose oil or fuel but I think the smell is nicer than what the horse drops! You work together with your car: you speak to your team on the radio but it's between you and your car, there is obviously a special relationship.''
''You're very happy when you cross the line in a very good position after you have had a good race so you say thanks to the car, but also the car is what connects you to your crew. I am working with the car on the track, the crew is working with the car in the garage and we all share a passion. So it was maybe just a nice gesture to say thanks.''
In another comical moment, Webber was asked why Red Bull had regained their dominance over the last three races. ''Drivers,'' said the Australian laconically.
INDIA
The Indian connections to the race did not fare very well, with Local Boy Narain Karthikeyan starting 23rd tomorrow, while the Sahara Force India boys of Nico Hulkenberg and Paul Di Resta qualifying provisionally at P12 and P16, though they both seem optimistic for tomorrow's race.
Narain driving for the second time at home in the Buddh International Circuit was happy with his performance and he believes the pace in the car is good and the strategy could be a one stopper, given the low tyre degradation. It is going to be another special day for Narain with the fans cheering him on after last year's phenomenal performance.
Hulkenberg is very optimistic about the race tomorrow, because of how close the times were today and also they have the option of picking their starting tires for the race and come up with a strategy for final day.
Di Resta, piloting the other Sahara Force India said there was a lot of hard work ahead before the race tomorrow and needs to look at things overnight to see where there can be improvement in the car.
While the big boys in their big mean machines were making all the noise and getting all the attention, the support races promoted by Buddh International Circuit also saw a lot wheel to wheel action with a lot of Indian drivers participating in the JK Racing Asia Series as well as the MRF Challenge 2012.
There are seven Indians on the JK Racing Asia Series grid and 3 on the MRF Challenge 2012 grid.
Akhil Khushlani and Aditya Patel represented Team US Formula Project, Vishnu Prasad, Raj Bharath, Karminder Singh, Akhil Rabindra and Chetan Korada drove for the Indian team Meco Racing in the JK series, while Sureshwaran, Sundar and Parth Ghorpade were a part of the MRF Challenge. While MRF Challenge did not see any Indian challenge for the podium in Race 1, Aditya Patel brought home his car in 3rd place for the first race in the JK Racing Asia series.
Fast Cars, an array of celebrities, sporting legends, politicians and top notch industrialists expected at the Buddh International Circuit on the 28th of October 2012, the spectators are in for an exciting day.

Brett Lee bids adieu: Ferocity will never be the same again

When Brett Lee limped off the field during his third over in the fourth ODI against England at
Durham, most people expected it to be just another injury in the fast bowler's 13-year long career.
   As one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket, the 35-year-old Australian pacer has been no stranger to injuries and has come back strongly every time he has been laid low.
   But this time, it was not so. The calf muscle, he pulled up during his run-up turned out to be the last injury his body could take, and those 2.2 overs he bowled turned out to be to be the final overs he would bowl in international cricket.
   Lee returned home to Sydney this week and today, he announced his retirement from international cricket.
   Ever since Lee donned the Australian colours in 1999, he started gaining the reputation of being fearsome, dangerous and one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket.
   Regularly clocking at 150 kmph and above, Lee emerged as a sensation and went on to become his team's spearhead for most part of his illustrious career. One of the best phases of his career came in the 2003 World Cup, where he finished the tournament with 22 wickets.
   Lee also became the first bowler to take a hat-trick in Twenty20 Internationals. He even has an ODI hat-trick to his name.
   The stylish pacer was one of the swiftest wicket-takers, as is proved by his strike rate of 29, while keeping the run rate in check.
   He was particularly a force to reckon with at the start of the match and it is fair to say that he was one of the most lethal bowlers in the Quick Start Overs.
   With his pace, accuracy and ability to bowl beamers at will, he was considered to be one of the best pace bowlers for over a decade in limited overs cricket. His numbers speak for themselves.
   In 221 ODIs, he has taken 380 scalps, just one short of Glenn McGrath's record for the highest number of wickets.
With an economy of 4.76 and an average of 23.36, he was undoubtedly one of the greats of the game. In T20Is, he had 28 wickets from 25 matches with a best of 3/23.
   Earlier, Lee had retired from Test cricket a year ago in February 2010 but continued playing for Australia in one-day matches and in the Twenty20 format.
   In his entire career of Test cricket Lee took a remarkable number of 310 wickets in 76 matches.
   He will continue playing in the Big Bash and Indian Premier League.

2011: World Cup triumph gives cause for celebrations

The year 2011 brought glad tidings for Indian cricket as the '
men-in-blue' led by mercurial skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni held
aloft the World Cup after a long gap
of 27 years and swashbuckling opener Virender Sehwag became the
highest scorer in one day format by cracking a double century
surpassing compatriot batting legend Sachin Tendulkar's record
of unbeaten 200 runs but the team ended up losing its numero
uno spot in Test ranking, getting trounced 0-4 by England
on foreign territory.
   Tendulkar finally added one of the rare honours to his already
feathered cap which had been eluding him in a glittering career
by being part of the India team that won the World Cup on home
soil.
   The images of Dhoni heaving a six to win the final against
Sri Lanka in Mumbai, and jubilant players carrying a misty-eyed
Tendulkar on their shoulders and embracing tearful Yuvraj Singh,
were watched by millions of fans glued to their TV sets
across India.
   That magical night was the culmination of an effort that
began under the tutelage of Indian cricket team's coach,
Gary Kirsten, and its captain Dhoni from the time they paired
up in 2007 to steer India from a team prone to capitulation to
a band of world beaters.
   That result ended a 28-year drought of smelling the World Cup.
Winning the World Cup was a dream harboured by the likes of
Tendulkar since he debuted almost two decades back.
   This was what Indian cricket teams had aspired for since
Kapil Dev raised the trophy on the Lord's balcony in 1983, and
it helped erase the bitter memories of 1992, 1996, 1999 and,
most famously, 2007.
   However, India's triumph in the one-day arena was not matched
in Tests, where they suffered the humiliation of failing to win
a single game on a full tour of England in which they were blanked
in four Tests and lost the top ranking in Test cricket to their
opponents in the process.
   England reclaimed the No 1 ranking for the first time since
1979.
   If there was one more figure that gave Indian fans a defining
moment in 2011, it was Sehwag.
   He earned the most impressive milestone of the year, hitting
a world-record score in one-day internationals by smashing 219
off 149 balls while leading Team India against the West Indies
in Indore, December 8, for the highest individual score in ODIs.
   Tendulkar had held the record up till now at 200.
   A series win over West Indies followed, during which the debut
performance of R Ashwin in the Tests and Sehwag's brutal inning
in the ensuing ODIs gave the fans something to write home about.
   But the year did not end on a happy note as the ageing Indian
team, despite the presence of the trio -- Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid
and VVS Laxman --suffered a punch in the Boxing Day Test -- a
humiliating defeat of 122 runs by the hands of a youthful Australian
squad, forcing the Indian cricket to wear their thinking caps on
what strategy to adopt against the Aussies next year as bouncy
tracks are going to make life difficult for the Indian squad, which
is used to adding wins to its kitty on placid turfs back home.
   The spotlight was trained on Tendulkar, who has not been able to
shake off the demon of scoring his hundredth hundred for the last
nine months.
   As Tendulkar carry the burden of expectations again for the
milestone century to the next Test match -- it is now battleground
Sydney.