Race Day

	From Race Day

So race day had arrived, not as hot as the previous two days - but more humid. My prediction of rain never materialised - but a glorious race did. After the support races completed, the bay stand filled with 32,000 people ready for the 800th Grand Prix - but the first under lights.

In a packed stand, the inability of my camera to see thought people wasn't going to be over come by the size of the lens I was using! The best opportunities for pictures of the cars at speed where on the previous days, with less people at the track and before the organisers had got wise to the unofficial places to observe the track from - such as under the stand as the track past below it!

Nelson Piquet walked away, eventually, from an impact right into the barriers in front of my stand. The exact timing of the resulting safety car would eventually lead to Alonso's victory. The fact that he was walking is a testament to the safety of the cars - for a while everyone in the stand was concerned something had punctured his safety cell.

Then the pit stop that ruined Massa's day/night and possibly his championship - all on the big screen right in front of me - like watching at home, but with added sound effects every few seconds!

The race continued to enthrall - another safety car put everyone back into a snake, with close racing to the end. Alonso's early pit stop immediately before the first safety car proved decisive as other dropped away in front of him - and a near perfect drive from 15th on the grid gained him a deserved win. Lewis drove conservatively to the points that come with 3rd - with both Ferraris out of the points pushing for more would have simply been greedy. 3 more races with 30 points up for grabs - if Lewis comes 2nd in every race he is champion by a point even if Massa wins every race.

Then they opened the track to smooth the journey home; and for lots of photo opportunities...