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Posted on Nov 19, 2023
F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix moves ahead after opening-night debacle
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https://www.npr.org/2023/11/18/ [login to see] /formula-1-las-vegas-water-valve-cover
Formula One is trying to recover in time for its Las Vegas Grand Prix race after an embarrassing opening-night debacle stopped the racers' first practice after just nine minutes.
Ferrari said a car driven by Carlos Sainz Jr. was severely damaged after a manhole cover came loose along the temporary street course late Thursday night.
Workers rushed to remove every drain cap along the nearly four-mile-long track, filling them with asphalt and sand. By the time the next practice started, 2 1/2 hours late, attendees had been ordered to leave the fan viewing areas. The course had to be closed a few hours later, by 4 a.m., in order to reopen the streets to morning commuters.
Formula One is trying to recover in time for its Las Vegas Grand Prix race after an embarrassing opening-night debacle stopped the racers' first practice after just nine minutes.
Ferrari said a car driven by Carlos Sainz Jr. was severely damaged after a manhole cover came loose along the temporary street course late Thursday night.
Workers rushed to remove every drain cap along the nearly four-mile-long track, filling them with asphalt and sand. By the time the next practice started, 2 1/2 hours late, attendees had been ordered to leave the fan viewing areas. The course had to be closed a few hours later, by 4 a.m., in order to reopen the streets to morning commuters.
F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix moves ahead after opening-night debacle
Posted from npr.org
Las Vegas
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Auto Racing
Formula 1
Posted 6 mo ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Racing resumed in Las Vegas on Friday with team Ferrari rebounding in a qualifying round and Sainz driving in a new car.
But in a move that's angering fans, Sainz was penalized for switching to the new car, with the sport's governing body saying they had no way to make a provision to the rulebook even though his original car was damaged by the approved course.
Sainz will be subject to starting 10 places behind his starting grid spot for the Grand Prix event, scheduled for Saturday at 10 p.m. local time.
NPR's Tristan Plunkett contributed reporting.
Correction
Nov. 18, 2023
An earlier version of this story incorrectly said the race was scheduled for Sunday at 10 p.m. local time. It is scheduled for 10 p.m. local time Saturday."
..."Racing resumed in Las Vegas on Friday with team Ferrari rebounding in a qualifying round and Sainz driving in a new car.
But in a move that's angering fans, Sainz was penalized for switching to the new car, with the sport's governing body saying they had no way to make a provision to the rulebook even though his original car was damaged by the approved course.
Sainz will be subject to starting 10 places behind his starting grid spot for the Grand Prix event, scheduled for Saturday at 10 p.m. local time.
NPR's Tristan Plunkett contributed reporting.
Correction
Nov. 18, 2023
An earlier version of this story incorrectly said the race was scheduled for Sunday at 10 p.m. local time. It is scheduled for 10 p.m. local time Saturday."
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