• GP2, Italian Grand Prix, Race 1

Filippi takes popular win at Monza

ESPNF1 Staff
September 10, 2011
Luca Filippi won at Monza in front of his home fans © Sutton Images
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Luca Filippi took victory in front of his home fans in the GP2 feature race at the Italian Grand Prix on Saturday.

Filippi took the chequered flag with a comfortable gap to Charles Pic in second after taking the lead off the line and maintaining his lead throughout. Recently-crowned champion Romain Grosjean put Pic under pressure towards the end of the race but he couldn't get close enough on Monza's long straights and had to settle for third.

Sam Bird sliced through the field from tenth to fourth with another gutsy fight back, helped by some swift work by his iSport team during the pit stops. He also benefited from a drive-through penalty for Alvaro Parente after an unsafe pit stop release, which dropped the Carlin driver from fourth to an eventual 12th place.

Behind Bird, Adam Carroll, Christian Vietoris, Fabio Leimer and Jules Bianchi rounded out the points paying positions. Bianchi came from 19th on the grid to finish eighth after making up six positions from the start and will get tomorrow's sprint race underway from the front of the grid.

Filippi's win, combined with a point for fastest lap, has put him back into contention for second place in the championship as he now lies just one point behind Pic. Bianchi and Giedo van der Garde are also still in the hunt although the later had his third non-score in a row in today's feature race.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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