SHANGHAI, CHINA – The Formula One season will go down to the final race with three drivers chasing the title. Lewis Hamilton missed his chance to clinch by gambling on one lap too many on bad tires.
Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari won the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, while Hamilton’s chances of becoming the first rookie to capture the title were put in jeopardy as he ran off the track in slippery conditions.
Fernando Alonso finished second to close within four points of his McLaren teammate. Hamilton has 107 points, Alonso 103 and Raikkonen 100.
It will be the first time since 1986 that three drivers will enter the final race with a chance at the title.
Hamilton and his McLaren team took a chance with his wet-weather tires deteriorating in drying conditions. They chose to wait through another lap of light rain before pitting. At the end of lap 31, Hamilton – nearly faultless all season – slid off into a gravel trap at the top of pit lane.
“Although my tires were in poor condition, we took a joint decision to get through the last rain shower before changing to dry tires,” Hamilton said. “I was trying to be careful and as a result was not really fighting aggressively with Kimi. It would have worked out perfectly but I then made a mistake coming into the pit lane and that was it.”
Scelzi wins funny car final dinwiddie, va. Four-time series champion Gary Scelzi earned one of four berths in the two-race funny car championship, beating teammate Ron Capps in the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals.
Scelzi was joined in the winner’s circle at Virginia Motorsports Park by Doug Kalitta (top fuel) and Dave Connolly (pro stock).
