West Rules the indy Waves Anthony West ruled the waves as he led the first day of practice for the very first Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix in the torrential rain this afternoon. The Australian may have been told by Kawasaki that his services are no longer required next season but when the going gets wet he is the man to turn to.
Wet it certainly was with heavy rain falling on the new 2.62 mile circuit constructed within the world famous oval, throughout the two sessions. Different track surfaces made life hard but West, despite one big slide in the afternoon, excelled as we knew he would in the rain.
It rained harder in the afternoon and all the fastest times where set in the morning with West leading the way from Alex De Angelis who was celebrating signing a new contract with the San Carlo Honda Gresini team. They were separated by just over one tenth of a second with World Champion Casey Stoner third. The Australian slid from the Marlboro Ducati in the morning but was unhurt.
Championship leader Valentino Rossi made steady progress in the afternoon riding the Fiat Yamaha but had to settle to 11th fastest from his morning time. In the afternoon Rossi missed turn one in the rain and took to the famous Indy banking. The first eight riders were separated by less than one second with Andre Dovizioso fourth in front of John Hopkins, Chris Vermeulen, Jorge Lorenzo and local hero Nicky Hayden.
The weather forecast for the next two days is for the rain to continue. It may force the postponement of the much anticipated Indy Mile dirt track race on Saturday night but it could provide West with a weekend to remember.
Toseland Surfaces After Wet Day Like the other riders James Toseland found the change of surfaces round the new Indy circuit difficult to cope with especially in the rain.
The 27 year old Yorkshireman eventually finished 17th riding the Tech 3 Yamaha over three seconds behind West.
“The different track surfaces make it so very difficult,” explained Toseland. “The old surface is giving plenty of grip but the new surface is very slippery. Also at turn one the track was becoming flooded.”
Redding in the Rain Fifteen year old Scott Redding enjoyed his first ever visit to America by finishing second in the first rain-lashed 125 cc qualifying session. The Gloucestershire teenager, riding the Blusens Aprilia had been on the pace right from the start of the first practice session in the morning. He led the way in the first qualifying session in the afternoon only to be pipped by Italian Lorenzo Zanetti in the final few minutes of the 30 minute session.
Bradley Smith made a slow start at the new track riding the Polaris World Aprilia but at the finish of that first qualifying session put in his best lap to finish in eighth place. Kent-based Danny Webb found the going tough in the rain and finished 19th.
STOP PRESS……. Ulsterman Eugene Laverty fought through the storm lashed 250 cc qualifying session to finish a brilliant and brave fourth riding the Blusens Aprilia.
