World racing champion fails to qualify

Press, 7 June 1982, Page 24

World racing champion fails to qualify

NZPA-Reuter Detroit The troubled Detroit Grand Prix formula one motor race was dealt another setback yesterday when afternoon rain cost the world champion Nelson Piquet of Brazil a place in the race and prevented many other drivers from making their best showing. The times in the rain during the afternoon qualifying session on the brand new race course were so slow that the starting order was based on a one-hour session in the morning — in which many drivers were still trying to learn the circuit and did not go their fastest.

Piquet by far was the biggest loser. He blew an egnine in his Brabham early in the morning session and then retired his backup car after only a few laps because it was not competitive. The Brazilian, having a disappointing season following his championship year, finished last among the 28 drivers. Only 26 qualified. The virtual washout of the afternoon session, which many drivers were depending on to qualify, was the latest in a series of frustrating developments in Detroit this week. The race course, built on city streets, was not even

ready for the cars until Saturday — more than 24 hours late. The world championship leader Alain Prost of France, driving a Renault, and Andrea de Cesaris of Italy, in an Alfa Romeo, were the two fastest drivers in the morning qualifying session for the grand prix. The Williams driver Keke Rosberg of Finland was third and Didier Pironi of France fourth in his Ferrari. Prost, the winner of the first two races of the season, clocked one minute 48.54 seconds over the 4.17 km circuit, an average speed of 138.25km/h.