Sergio Perez, Force India top Day 1 of final F1 preseason test - MotorSportsTalk

As one of three drivers to log more than 100 laps today at Bahrain International Circuit, Force India’s Sergio Perez was quickest in the first day of the final Formula One preseason test with a time of 1:35.290 in the VJM07.

Perez’s lap was slower than the 1:33.283 that Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg put down at the end of last week’s first preseason test at Bahrain, but it was still a solid display of reliability that appears to have pleased his colleagues on the Silverstone-based outfit:

Chequered flag – 105 laps and P1 for @SChecoPerez! A very good day of work with many important indications on the car's behaviour. #SFI

— Sahara Force India (@clubforce) February 27, 2014

Today was also another strong day for Mercedes-powered teams as a whole. Williams’ Valtteri Bottas was second-fastest but logged the most laps with 128, while McLaren rookie Kevin Magnussen turned in 109 laps.

Only one Merc-powered driver, Rosberg, didn’t go over 100 laps – and he was still close to the mark with 89 circuits.

Meanwhile, the Renault-powered squads – led by four-time reigning World Champions Red Bull – continued to struggle mightily.

Things appeared to be looking up for Red Bull after Daniel Ricciardo ran 32 laps early in the session. But they were kept out of much of the afternoon session as a reported overheating problem on the RB10 forced them inside the garage for a while.

As for the other Renault teams, an exhaust problem on Pastor Maldonado’s E22 caused Lotus to call it a day earlier than anticipated. Red Bull’s “brother” team, Scuderia Toro Rosso, managed to put together 56 laps with Daniil Kvyat at the controls, but Caterham’s Kamui Kobayashi was only able to log 19 laps.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen came to a stop on the track during the final moments of today’s test, but not before posting the third-fastest time after an electrical problem had dogged the Scuderia for a bit in the morning.

THURSDAY TIMES FROM BAHRAIN:
1. Sergio Perez, Force India-Mercedes, 1m35.290s, 105 Laps
2. Valtteri Bottas, Williams-Mercedes, 1m36.184s, 128
3. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1m36.432s, 54
4. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, 1m36.624s, 89
5. Adrian Sutil, Sauber-Ferrari, 1m37.700s, 89
6. Kevin Magnussen, McLaren-Mercedes, 1m37.825s, 109
7. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull-Renault, 1m37.908s, 39
8. Max Chilton, Marussia-Ferrari, 1m38.610s, 44
9. Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso-Renault, 1m39.242s, 55
10. Pastor Maldonado, Lotus-Renault, 1m40.599s, 31
11. Kamui Kobayashi, Caterham-Renault, 1m42.285s, 19

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It took four attempts for Kyle Larson to win his first High Limit Sprint Car Series race in the series he co-owns with brother-in-law Brad Sweet, but once he found victory lane, he has been undefeated with his win at Eagle (Nebraska) Raceway. For the second week, Abreu led early only to fall prey to Larson.

The win was Larson’s third straight victory and the fifth consecutive top-five, giving him a perfect sweep of the season after finishing 10th in last year’s inaugural race at Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville, Indiana.

Larson started third behind Abreu and Brent Marks but was embroiled in a fierce battle with Anthony Macri for third during the first dozen laps. Larson slipped by Macri in traffic until a red flag waved for a flip by Lachlan McHugh.

Meanwhile at the front of the pack, Marks retook the lead from Abreu on Lap 18. Larson followed one lap later and then caution waved again. Tyler Courtney lost power and fell to 24th after starting eighth.

Marks scooted away on the restart but tragedy struck in Lap 26. Leading the race, Marks hit a pothole in Turn 1, bicycled and then flipped, handing the lead to Larson.

Abreu caught Larson again during the final laps and in a reprise of their battle at Tri-City Speedway, the two threw sliders at one another for several laps until Larson built some separation and ran away to the checkers.

𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧. 𝗪𝗔𝗦. 𝗘𝗣𝗜𝗖.@EagleRaceway went above and beyond in their return to the main stage with the High Limit Sprint Car Series tonight!

pic.twitter.com/H3XKQEOpg6

— High Limit Racing (@HighLimitRacing) June 7, 2023

“I didn’t feel like my pace in [Turns] 1 & 2 slowed down a ton,” Larson said from victory lane. “I missed it once there and then I saw his nose in 3 & 4. I didn’t know if he nailed the bottom that well behind me and I think he might have slid me in the next corner, so he was definitely on the top.

“I was nervous to move up there because my car was really pogoing up in the entry of 1. I got up just in time, made a few mistakes and he threw a couple more sliders at me but he was just a little too far back and I was able to squirt around him. Then I really had to commit to hitting my marks – back my effort down a bit to avoid mistakes.”

After leading early, Abreu fell back as far as sixth, but faith in his car kept hope alive.

“I just needed to do a few things a few laps before I did and fix some angles, then my car got a whole lot better,” Abreu said. “I’m thankful for this team; they do an amazing job. They don’t give up on me. I know my car is going to be there right at the end of these races, so it’s just the discipline of being patient.”

For Abreu, it was his third near-miss this season. He was leading at Lakeside in the 2023 opener until a tire went flat in the closing laps and he lost the lead to Larson late in the Tri-City Speedway race. Abreu has finished sixth or better in his last three High Limit races with each result being progressively better until his pair of runner-up results.

Third-place finisher Scelzi was the hard charger, advancing from 17th.

“I had a very specific plan; don’t go near [the hole in Turn 1],” Scelzi said. “It worked out. No one wanted to start on the top. I think I gained a couple of rows there on the choose cone and ran the middle, which seemed to be better than right around the bottom.”

Michael “Buddy” Kofoid in fourth and Macri rounded out the top five.

World of Outlaws star and former NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne was one of 41 entrants, but he was not among the 26 starters. He failed to advance to the Main after finishing eighth in the B Main and seventh in his heat.

Feature Results

A Feature (40 Laps): 1. 57-Kyle Larson[4]; 2. 24-Rico Abreu[1]; 3. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[17]; 4. 71-Michael Kofoid[5]; 5. 39M-Anthony Macri[3]; 6. 9-Chase Randall[9]; 7. 26-Zeb Wise[14]; 8. 1X-Jake Bubak[15]; 9. 8-Aaron Reutzel[10]; 10. 14D-Corey Day[18]; 11. 11-Cory Eliason[12]; 12. 5T-Ryan Timms[11]; 13. 88-Austin McCarl[13]; 14. 21H-Brady Bacon[22]; 15. 48-Danny Dietrich[16]; 16. 7S-Robbie Price[19]; 17. 21-Brian Brown[23]; 18. 22-Riley Goodno[26]; 19. 52-Blake Hahn[25]; 20. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[21]; 21. 3J-Dusty Zomer[6]; 22. 14-Cole Macedo[7]; 23. 19-Brent Marks[2]; 24. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[8]; 25. 25-Lachlan McHugh[20]; 26. 53-Jack Dover[24]

2023 High Limit Sprint Car Series

Race 1: Giovanni Scelzi wins at Lakeside Speedway
Race2: Anthony Macri wins at 34 Raceway
Race 3: Kyle Larson wins at Wayne County Speedway
Race 4: Kyle Larson wins at Tri-City Speedway

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