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GREATER NOIDA, India - Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel led a second one-two during the second practice session ahead of the 2013 Indian Grand Prix.
Vettel recorded 1min25.722 seconds on soft tyre for his best lap on the Buddh International Circuit, 0.289 faster than team mate Mark Webber and almost a second quicker than his time of 1min26.683 in the first session.
HEADED FOR A FOURTH TITLE
Vettel, who has won both previous Indian GP races from pole, can win his fourth straight world title by placing fifth or better on October 27 2013.
Lotus driver Romain Grosjean was third fastest with a time of 1min26.220, ahead of Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton with a time of 1min26.399.
Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso overcame gearbox problems in the morning session to finish the day fifth fastest, ahead of Nico Rosberg's Mercedes and teammate Felipe Massa.
The second session was marred by handling problems as most drivers came to terms with the smooth, warming track and the softer compound Pirelli tires.
Kimi Raikkonen, who finished 17th in the morning session, appeared to be fighting a losing battle for control of his Lotus and had difficulties taking the tighter turns. He improved to eighth fastest, but looked far from comfortable ahead of qualifying.
TYRE WOES
Pastor Maldonado suffered wheel problems again. The Williams driver who lost a wheel in practice at the 2013 Japanese GP was forced to park at the entrance to pit lane Friday when he lost a wheel nut and eventually punctured his front right tire after 23 laps of the second session.
Weather at the track was hot and dry, with similar conditions forecast for October 27.
Tire supplier Pirelli has dropped the more durable hard compound tires for the Indian surface, instead opting for soft and medium options. While the soft tires proved to be considerably faster, drivers complained of a lack of durability.
Alonso had a frustrating start to the first practice, completing only six laps before being forced into the pits with a gearbox issue and ending the morning with the 12th-fastest time. Ferrari repaired the problem in time for the second session, without the need to replace the gearbox.
2013 Indian Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit:
Second practice:
1 Sebastian Vettel (GER) Red Bull 1min25.722
2 Mark Webber (AUS) Red Bull 1min26.011
3 Romain Grosjean (FRA) Lotus 1min26.220
4 Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes 1min26.399
5 Fernando Alonso (ESP) Ferrari 1min26.430
6 Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes 1min26.582
7 Felipe Massa (BRA) Ferrari 1min26.601
8 Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Lotus 1min26.632
9 Sergio Perez (MEX) McLaren 1min26.857
10 Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren 1min26.972
11 Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Toro Rosso 1min27.304
12 Adrian Sutil (GER) Force India 1min27.375
13 Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Williams 1min27.429
14 Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Sauber 1min27.491
15 Paul Di Resta (GBR) Force India 1min27.608
16 Pastor Maldonado (VEN) Williams 1min27.720
17 Esteban Gutierrez (MEX) Sauber 1min27.949
18 Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA) Toro Rosso 1min28.431
19 Giedo van der Garde (NED) Caterham 1min28.692
20 Jules Bianchi (FRA) Marussia 1min28.799
21 Charles Pic (FRA) Caterham 1min29.366
22 Max Chilton (GBR) Marussia 1min30.164
First practice session
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2013 Indian GP weekend.
Vettel recorded 1min25.722 seconds on soft tyre for his best lap on the Buddh International Circuit, 0.289 faster than team mate Mark Webber and almost a second quicker than his time of 1min26.683 in the first session.
HEADED FOR A FOURTH TITLE
Vettel, who has won both previous Indian GP races from pole, can win his fourth straight world title by placing fifth or better on October 27 2013.
Lotus driver Romain Grosjean was third fastest with a time of 1min26.220, ahead of Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton with a time of 1min26.399.
Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso overcame gearbox problems in the morning session to finish the day fifth fastest, ahead of Nico Rosberg's Mercedes and teammate Felipe Massa.
The second session was marred by handling problems as most drivers came to terms with the smooth, warming track and the softer compound Pirelli tires.
Kimi Raikkonen, who finished 17th in the morning session, appeared to be fighting a losing battle for control of his Lotus and had difficulties taking the tighter turns. He improved to eighth fastest, but looked far from comfortable ahead of qualifying.
TYRE WOES
Pastor Maldonado suffered wheel problems again. The Williams driver who lost a wheel in practice at the 2013 Japanese GP was forced to park at the entrance to pit lane Friday when he lost a wheel nut and eventually punctured his front right tire after 23 laps of the second session.
Weather at the track was hot and dry, with similar conditions forecast for October 27.
Tire supplier Pirelli has dropped the more durable hard compound tires for the Indian surface, instead opting for soft and medium options. While the soft tires proved to be considerably faster, drivers complained of a lack of durability.
Alonso had a frustrating start to the first practice, completing only six laps before being forced into the pits with a gearbox issue and ending the morning with the 12th-fastest time. Ferrari repaired the problem in time for the second session, without the need to replace the gearbox.
2013 Indian Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit:
Second practice:
1 Sebastian Vettel (GER) Red Bull 1min25.722
2 Mark Webber (AUS) Red Bull 1min26.011
3 Romain Grosjean (FRA) Lotus 1min26.220
4 Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes 1min26.399
5 Fernando Alonso (ESP) Ferrari 1min26.430
6 Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes 1min26.582
7 Felipe Massa (BRA) Ferrari 1min26.601
8 Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Lotus 1min26.632
9 Sergio Perez (MEX) McLaren 1min26.857
10 Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren 1min26.972
11 Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Toro Rosso 1min27.304
12 Adrian Sutil (GER) Force India 1min27.375
13 Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Williams 1min27.429
14 Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Sauber 1min27.491
15 Paul Di Resta (GBR) Force India 1min27.608
16 Pastor Maldonado (VEN) Williams 1min27.720
17 Esteban Gutierrez (MEX) Sauber 1min27.949
18 Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA) Toro Rosso 1min28.431
19 Giedo van der Garde (NED) Caterham 1min28.692
20 Jules Bianchi (FRA) Marussia 1min28.799
21 Charles Pic (FRA) Caterham 1min29.366
22 Max Chilton (GBR) Marussia 1min30.164
First practice session
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2013 Indian GP weekend.