MONTREAL – The Canadian Grand Prix will compete for attention with European Soccer championship on Sunday, and it leaves Formula One leader Fernando Alonso of Ferrari in a tricky spot.
He’s a Spanish driver on an Italian team, and Spain will be facing Italy in its opening match at Euro 2012.
”If Spain wins, I think there may not be many people at the pit stop,” he said with a laugh.
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RARE COMPANY _ Lewis Hamilton will start on the front row beside pole sitter Sebastian Vettel and the British McLaren Mercedes driver will be gunning for a third Canadian Grand Prix victory. The only drivers with more than Hamilton are Michael Schumacher, with seven, and the retired Nelson Piquet, with three.
Other drivers on the grid who have won at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve are Alonso (2006) and Kimi Raikkonen (2005).
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VILLENEUVE TRIBUTE _ Ferrari driver Felipe Massa will have his own tribute to Gilles Villeneuve, the Berthierville, Que., native who was a star driver on the Italian team. Villeneuve was killed in a crash at the Belgian Grand Prix in 1982.
”On my helmet I have the name Gilles Villeneuve as a tribute to the driver who was part of Ferrari history,” said Massa. ‘I am proud of being able to pay hommage to him in the year that marks the 30th anniversary of his death. Even if I was only just born when the accident happened, I have always been a big fan of his.”
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ON THE HOLE _ A hot topic has been governing body FIA’s decision to ban the use of a hole in the floor of cars near the back wheels to improve aerodynamic performance. Some felt the Red Bull team’s use of the hole is behind their strong results in the last three races, including a win each for Vettel and Mark Webber.
Vettel said the holes were within regulations when they used them. And he showed they could do without them when he won pole position for the Canadian Grand Prix on Saturday.
”First of all, we had the hole because, in combination with the other parts, it made sense,” he said. ”It was declared illegal, then legal, then illegal again.”
The he added with a laugh: ”Maybe next week it’s legal. We have the parts in the garage.”
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FINE TIMES _ Former Ferrari world champion Raikkonen was fined 2,500 Euros ($3,212 CDN) for making an illegal entry into pit lane in his Lotus during practice before qualifying. Jean-Eric Vergne of Toro Rosso was fined 800 Euros ($1,028) and Bruno Senna of Williams 600 Euros ($771) for speeding in pit lane.
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