- GP2, Monaco Grand Prix, Race 2
Palmer wins after first lap pile-up
Jolyon Palmer kept clear of trouble to take his maiden GP2 victory in the Monaco sprint race.
Palmer led from the first corner to the flag as the race was broken up following a first lap with claimed ten cars. Behind him Max Chilton closed what had been a ten second gap to just a second by the chequered flag, while Giedo van der Garde came home third.
When the lights went out Palmer got a strong start to lead in to Ste Devote, but pole-sitter Stephane Richelmi moved across on James Calado, taking himself out of the race and damaging Calado's front wing. As the field climbed up towards Massanet, however, Johnny Cecotto dropped the rear at the top of the hill and spun, taking out Davide Valsecchi and causing a bunch-up behind him.
As Victor Guerin braked to avoid the incident, Felipe Nasr climbed over the back of his car, causing a pile-up which also accounted for Giancarlo Serenelli, Tom Dillmann, Fabio Onidi and Ricardo Teixeira. The safety car was required to allow marshals to clear the car and debris before racing could resume.
At the restart, Palmer eased away from Calado, whose damaged front wing was affecting his pace. A train of cars had formed behind the Lotus and by the time Calado was given a black and orange flag - ordering him in to the pits to have the front wing repaired - Palmer had built up a ten-second lead.
Chilton gave game chase, taking a second a lap out of Palmer in the closing stages, but the leader was measuring his pace until the chequered flag. Behind van der Garde, Marcus Ericsson made it a good afternoon for iSport with fourth place ahead of Rodolfo Gonzalez and Luiz Razia. Nathanael Berthon and Esteban Gutierrez rounded out the points positions as the race became one of attrition with only 12 drivers finishing.