Photo by: GP2 Media Service
Gonzalez has frustrating end to GP2 season
Venezuelan Rodolfo Gonzalez endured an ultimately frustrating end to the GP2 season at the famous Italian track of Monza, last weekend.
The qualifying session took place as usual on Friday and Gonzalez ended up in 16th place, but felt he could have finished closer to the top 10.
As Gonzalez explained "I believe we had a top-10 potential today because I managed to bond with the car's setup very early. With the first set of new tyres I immediately set a great lap, but in the second half of the session I was hit both by yellow flags and by the heavy traffic we faced on-track. I think that the track itself grew slower because just a few drivers managed to improve in the end. It's not impossible to pass at Monza so I expect that with no big breaks against us I'll be able to get up to a points spot."
The first feature race took place on Saturday afternoon and Gonzalez’s race was almost finished just after it started as contact at the first chicane meant he was pushed into another car, which damaged the car. He elected not to pit but to carry on but it was not possible on this high speed track to get the full potential from the car which meant he finished in 19th place.
"My race has been affected by the incident that happened at the braking for the first corner. I heard a hard hit and braked hard, and luckily enough the engine kept going. Unfortunately, when I re-started I got an unexpected vibration. I tried to complete the whole distance with no major mistakes, but it's been tough because we got some great feedback in qualifying and we could have definitely aimed at a better result today".
The final race of the season took place on Sunday and with Gonzalez starting in 19th place any realistic chance of a points finish was gone, but he was determined to finish the season on a positive note for his Trident racing team.
As Gonzalez wrapped-up at the end of the weekend after his 16th place finish “I don't have much to say about today's race. When you start at the back it’s really tough to aim at a top-10 spot. I drove a pretty solid race with no mistakes and no surprises as well."
Teams and drivers will be back on-track for a non-points event next November at Abu Dhabi. Then the GP2 championship will take a break and in 2012 will be combining the GP2 Asia & GP2 Main championships into one larger championship.
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