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11/20 23:59 CST Las Vegas Grand Prix practice halted twice due to loose
maintenance cover
Las Vegas Grand Prix practice halted twice due to loose maintenance cover
By JENNA FRYER
AP Auto Racing Writer
LAS VEGAS (AP) --- A street maintenance cover has again disrupted on-track
action at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where Thursday night practice was stopped
twice so the track could be inspected.
The inaugural race in 2023 was upended just nine minutes into the first
practice session when a loose cover damaged the underbody of Carlos Sainz Jr.'s
car. It took more than two hours to fix the loose cover and inspect the entire
circuit, which runs 3.85 miles (6.20 km) and utilizes parts of the iconic Las
Vegas Strip.
The next practice didn't begin until after 2 a.m., lasted until 4 a.m. and all
spectators had been sent home long before activity resumed.
There were no issues last year and Thursday's first practice was clean with
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari leading the session. Trouble came with about 20
minutes left in the second session when a marshal reported a possible loose
maintenance cover near Turn 17.
The FIA, the governing body for F1, red flagged the practice because race
control could not find video footage to determine if there was a problem. The
red flag allowed race control personnel to physically examine the site.
"Following inspection, we are confident everything is in suitable condition to
resume the session," the FIA said as cars were sent back with about six minutes
remaining.
But inspectors stayed at the site when practice resumed and reported the cover
was moving as cars passed over it. The red flag was again thrown, ending the
session. The FIA said inspections will continue ahead of Friday night
qualifying.
Lando Norris of McLaren, the current F1 points leader, was fastest in the
second session.
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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
