Qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka was red-flagged three times for three different accidents.
Jaime Alguersuari put his Toro Rosso in the barriers at Degner eight minutes into Q2. Then, four minutes after the session had resumed, Timo Glock crashed his Toyota at the final turn.
In Q3 it was Heikki Kovalainen’s turn to hit the wall, spinning off at Degner.
Glock’s accident was the most worrying. The marshals covered the scene with a sheet as he was taken away on a stretcher. He gave a thumbs-up as he was carried away from his car. Early reports from the track suggest he suffered a leg wound described as an ‘abrasion’.
It’s not yet clear if he will be able to race tomorrow. However as he started the qualifying session no-one will be allowed to take his place. Kamui Kobayashi piloted Glock’s car during practice yesterday.
Alguersuari, meanwhile, was taken to hospital for precautionary checks.
All three drivers had never competed at the circuit in F1 before, and like their rivals missed much precious practice time yesterday due to heavy rainfall.
It’s also noticeable that Gliock and Kovalainen are thought likely to lose their seats in 2010, putting them under greater pressure to perform.
Sebastien Buemi, meanwhile, managed to crash twice without bringing out the red flags on either occasion.
Video of Timo Glock’s crash in Q1
Video of Heikki Kovalainen’s crash in Q2
Japanese Grand Prix
m0tion
3rd October 2009, 8:38
Did something break in the rear?
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
3rd October 2009, 8:53
Toyota say there’s no immediate indication of a failure on the car.
Oliver
3rd October 2009, 14:12
But it does look like Glocks left wheel not responding to driver command. Initially it did seem like he misjudged how much lock he need to take that turn.
Juan
3rd October 2009, 18:42
I think it’s understeer. The angle of his steering and that of other cars are similar, but it seems that Suzuka just takes so much out of the soft tires after just one flying lap, you barely have enough to make it home.
Benji
3rd October 2009, 8:44
For Glocks crash, it looked like something broke in the left front. Just seemed to understeer right across the track.
carldec
3rd October 2009, 8:45
I would love to see some better footage of Buemi’s second crash…
Must be a very strange feeling to have your best qualifying day in your life with two crashes… I was really hoping that he would do well, its fun to see the STR guys going fast.
Is it me or are the Fuji TV folks missing a lot… no video of Webber… a long shot of Buemi.
StrFerrari4Ever
3rd October 2009, 14:39
You aint the only one I love seeing STR going fast I don’t know it seems to just evoke something inside me :D
However it was very disappointing with Buemi’s crash & Alguersuari’s I had high hopes for Buemi as he could’ve done great things in Q3 but the race is long and hopefully Toro Rosso will be strong!
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
3rd October 2009, 8:50
On the point of changing drivers, the onlty way Toyota can do it at this stage is with the consent of the stewards:
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
3rd October 2009, 9:24
According to Autosport:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79173
DomPrez
3rd October 2009, 15:33
Crash-Gate Part 2…
Toyota gives crash orders to Glock, brings in hometown driver for Sasuka crowds…
(oh no, what have i started…)
carldec
3rd October 2009, 9:18
here is one for your stats page, Keith:
Whats the highest anyone has qualified after crashing twice? Has anyone ever crashed twice in qualifying before?
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
3rd October 2009, 9:21
No idea! Anyone?
K
3rd October 2009, 12:37
No idea either but back in the “good old days” when there was a spare car it might have been less of a drama. I seem to remember the odd occasion where someone wrecked their race car and then wrecked the T car.
Dominic
3rd October 2009, 9:40
It was deffinatley worth getting up at 5am this morning!
Great qualifying and realyl exciting!
James
3rd October 2009, 11:05
It was, but it was torture at the same time! I wanted to get back to bed. haha
gabal
3rd October 2009, 16:25
I have watched it from bed ;) But it was interesting, I can’t believe F1 didn’t race on Suzuka, it is such a great track…
wasiF1
3rd October 2009, 10:19
I wonder if Glock misjudge the amount of track left if something has not broken
dsob
3rd October 2009, 12:46
Appears Glock pushed it over the traction limit. Following quote is from the article in Keith’s link to Autosport above:
steph90
3rd October 2009, 14:29
It was a bizzare qualifying. It is the first time that I have lost count of the number of crashes but I’m veyr relieved that none of the crashes were too serious/life threatening. I hope Timo makes a speedy recovery.
sato113
3rd October 2009, 15:44
and Buemi don’t forget.
GV27
3rd October 2009, 17:17
Keith, I might be mistaken, but I would swear Glock raced here on 2004, with Jordan,
Gusto
3rd October 2009, 18:11
If you watch Timo in freeze frame your see the reason for the crash occuring between 7 and 9 seconds, He starts riding the kurb with slight left turning while putting the power down, then turns right, then turns sharper right but by then it`s a Playstation `it should make it` driving incident. Shame really because He aced the chicane which in turn led to Him taking too much final kurb.
HO
5th October 2009, 19:15
I think it’s understeer. The angle of his steering and that of other cars are similar, but it seems that Suzuka just takes so much out of the soft tires after just one flying lap, you barely have enough to make it home.