Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix - 10th and 12th on Grid!!

In Finland, we are quite crazy about car and motorcycle racing. Several Finns have made it to the very top, in Formula 1, Rally Driving and Motor Cross racing.

In Formula 1, the top Finnish names have been K. K. Roseberg and Mika Hakkinen. Presently, the very bland Kimi Raikkonen is showing his mettle in the Maclaren camp alongside Juan Pablo Montaya.

And now, for the first time, a young Indian that we have been watching very closely, has broken into the Formula 1 circuit as the driver for Jordon. His name - Narain Karthikeyan.

Yesterday was the Time Trials for the opening session in Melbourne Australia. In rather wet weather the Finns watched excitedly to see how Kimi as well as Narain would fare.

And a few minutes ago I watched the second time trials for the race which will start in about 3 hours time.

The Italians, Giancarlo Fisichellah driving his Renault and Jarno Trulli driving for Totyota, followed by Mark Webber of Australia for Williams have claimed the first three positions on the starting grid.

Raikkonen is 10th in the starting grid, followed by Rubens Barichello (Ferrari) and followed by Narain (12th).

With the dramatic changes in the rules governing the Formula 1 race, the need to drive through the entire race on one set of tyres, the need to keep the same engine for 2 races, the whole race does not any more depend on the position in the starting grid. It is intelligent driving, fuel economy calculations and care of the tyres over the entitre race which will decide the winner. The final stages of the race will become more exciting with those drivers who drive well and preserve tyre quality taking the race to an exciting finish.

The Finns are excited, not only with their own driver, but they are watching with keen interest this young Indian.

I hope in these blogs to report to you all the interesting data of Formula 1 form from Finland - a view, I assure you that you will not pick up elsewhere.