fter a sensational start to his 2014 Super Formula season with a front row qualifying result, Narain Karthikeyan’s maiden weekend in the series came to a premature end after an on-track incident with eventual winner Loic Duval ended his chances of a top five finish.
The Indian, supported by Tata Sons and Tata Motors, had qualified on the front row yesterday but had to start fifth after being slapped with a three-place grid penalty as he was adjudged to have impeded another car during free practice.
‘It has been a disappointing end to the weekend after a promising start. We should have started on the front row but were fifth on the grid and then the incident with Duval scrapped any remaining hopes’, remarked a disappointed Narain.
Elaborating on the penalty, Narain said, ‘During the drivers’ briefing, the organisers were clear that a three-place penalty will be awarded in case a driver is found impeding others during qualifying, but in my case it was during the start of the practice session which doesn’t really count towards anything.