Ferrari Rocks in Spanish Grand Prix

Kimi and Massa make Ferrari's second successive one-two finish, and third win in a row, with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton taking third place to revive his title challenge after a disappointing last race in Bahrain. Raikkonen's 17th grand prix win left the Finn with 29 points, nine clear of closest rival Hamilton, and catapulted Ferrari back in front of BMW.

Raikkonen's championship score increased to 29 points and his lead to nine over Hamilton (20), while Massa jumps up to fourth on 18, one behind Kubica (19). Heikki Kovalainen had a bad day. On the 22nd lap, possibly as a result of something causing the front-left tyre and tharim to separate. It took a while to stabilise the Finn at the accident scene, but he gave a thumbs up as he was taken by stretcher to the medical centre.

Giancarlo Fisichella was unable to resist the charging Heidfeld, so brought his Force India home 10th, ahead of Toyota's Timo Glock, who delayed himself running into the rear of David Coulthard. The Scot's left-rear tyre was cut as a result, so he also dropped back but managed to repass Super Aguri's Takuma Sato before the finish to claim 12th.

The first European race of the season ended with an entirely predictable result, with the Circuit de Catalunya setting a record as the track with the longest run of successive winners from pole position. Raikkonen, the only driver to have won twice so far this season, was the eighth in a row to have triumphed in Barcelona from pole.

Race Results
1 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 66 1:38:19.051
2 Felipe Massa Ferrari 66 +3.2 secs
3 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 66 +4.1 secs
4 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 66 +5.6 secs
5 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 66 +35.9 secs
6 Jenson Button Honda 66 +53.0 secs
7 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 66 +58.2 secs
8 Jarno Trulli Toyota 66 +59.4 secs
9 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 66 +63.0 secs
10 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Ferrari 65 +1 Lap
11 Timo Glock Toyota 65 +1 Lap
12 David Coulthard Red Bull-Renault 65 +1 Lap
13 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 65 +1 Lap

A Wonderful speech on Managing Failure - APJ Abdul Kalam

Former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam : 'A Leader Should Know How to Manage Failure'

India Knowledge@Wharton: Could you give an example, from your own experience, of how leaders should manage failure?

Kalam: Let me tell you about my experience. In 1973 I became the project director of India 's satellite launch vehicle program, commonly called the SLV-3. Our goal was to put India 's "Rohini" satellite into orbit by 1980. I was given funds and human resources - but was told clearly that by 1980 we had to launch the satellite into space. Thousands of people worked together in scientific and technical teams towards that goal.

By 1979 - I think the month was August -- we thought we were ready. As the project director, I went to the control center for the launch. At four minutes before the satellite launch, the computer began to go through the checklist of items that needed to be checked. One minute later, the computer program put the launch on hold; the display showed that some control components were not in order. My experts -- I had four or five of them with me -- told me not to worry; they had done their calculations and there was enough reserve fuel. So I bypassed the computer, switched to manual mode, and launched the rocket. In the first stage, everything worked fine. In the second stage, a problem developed. Instead of the satellite going into orbit, the whole rocket system plunged into the Bay of Bengal . It was a big failure. That day, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, Prof. Satish Dhawan, had called a press conference. The launch was at 7:00 am, and the press conference -- where journalists from around the world were present -- was at 7:45 am at ISRO's satellite launch range in Sriharikota [in Andhra Pradesh in southern India ]. Prof. Dhawan, the leader of the organization, conducted the press conference himself. He took responsibility for the failure -- he said that the team had worked very hard, but that it needed more technological support. He assured the media that in another year, the team would definitely succeed. Now, I was the project director, and it was my failure, but instead, he took responsibility for the failure as chairman of the organization.

The next year, in July 1980, we tried again to launch the satellite - and this time we succeeded. The whole nation was jubilant. Again, there was a press conference. Prof. Dhawan called me aside and told me, "You conduct the press conference today."

I learned a very important lesson that day. When failure occurred, the leader of the organization owned that failure. When success came, he gave it to his team. The best management lesson I have learned did not come to me from reading a book; it came from that experience.

Its Ferrari again in Baharain GP

This Time it is Massa's Turn.

Brazilian Felipe Massa led Ferrari to a one-two victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday with team mate Kimi Raikkonen seizing the championship lead from McLaren's Lewis Hamilton. Massa really needed this victory, and he barely put a wheel wrong in achieving it. His Ferrari had all the pace it needed, and he could control the race. His only problem was ensuring that there was no repeat of Malaysia. Raikkonen was quick, but not quick enough to challenge his team mate.

Massa's sixth career win brought him his first points of the Formula One season and came at the same Sakhir desert circuit where he fired up his title challenge last year with a pole-to-flag victory.

World champion Raikkonen collected the 50th podium finish of his grand prix career and the Finnish 'Iceman' took over at the top with 19 points, three clear of BMW Sauber's German Nick Heidfeld, after three races.

Race Results:
1 Felipe Massa Ferrari 57 1:31:06.970
2 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 57 +3.3 secs
3 Robert Kubica BMW 57 +4.9 secs
4 Nick Heidfeld BMW 57 +8.4 secs
5 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 57 +26.7 secs
6 Jarno Trulli Toyota 57 +41.3 secs
7 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 57 +45.4 secs
8 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 57 +55.8 secs
9 Timo Glock Toyota 57 +69.5 secs
10 Fernando Alonso Renault 57 +77.1 secs
11 Rubens Barrichello Honda 57 +77.8 secs
12 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Ferrari 56 +1 Lap
13 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 56 +1 Lap
14 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 56 +1 Lap
15 Sebastien Bourdais STR-Ferrari 56 +1 Lap
16 Anthony Davidson Super Aguri-Honda 56 +1 Lap
17 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 56 +1 Lap
18 David Coulthard Red Bull-Renault 56 +1 Lap
19 Adrian Sutil Force India-Ferrari 55 +2 Laps

Malaysian Grand Prix... Kimi is Back..

Kimi is back and back with a bang.

The World champion failed to finish last weekend's season-opener in Australia but the Iceman's 16th Grand prix victory was sealed when he took the lead from team mate Felipe Massa who was in pole position for the Malaysian Grand prix. Kimi's victory has put Ferrari back to its winning streak taking a three point lead from Lewis Hamilton.

Massa had a tough race, he spun out of an easy second place on the 31st lap, leaving Robert Kubica BMW Sauber finish second, the best result of his Formula One career to date, and McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen was third.

For Lewis Hamilton, it was a race spent playing catch-up. He made a great start to jump from ninth up to fifth place behind the Ferraris, Kubica and similarly fast-starting Mark Webber in the Red Bull. But then a problem with the right-front wheel during his first pit stop dropped him down to 11th place, and he lost time hand over fist in the traffic.

Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Bourdais was the first retirement, falling off on the opening lap. Rosberg clobbered Timo Glock then, too, necessitating a pit stop for a new nose cone. The Williams continued, the Toyota was through for the day. Adrian Sutil suffered a mechanical problem that stopped his Force India out on the track, while Sebastian Vettel suffered either engine or transmission failure that brought him to a smoky halt.

The result leaves Hamilton still leading the world championship for drivers with 14 points, ahead of Raikkonen and Heidfeld on 11 apiece. In the constructors’ chase, McLaren lead with 24, ahead of BMW Sauber on 19 and Ferrari on 11.

Race Results
1 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 56 1:31:18.555
2 Robert Kubica BMW 56 +19.5 secs
3 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 56 +38.4 secs
4 Jarno Trulli Toyota 56 +45.8 secs
5 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 56 +46.5 secs
6 Nick Heidfeld BMW 56 +49.8 secs
7 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 56 +68.1 secs
8 Fernando Alonso Renault 56 +70.0 secs
9 David Coulthard Red Bull-Renault 56 +76.2 secs
10 Jenson Button Honda 56 +86.2 secs
11 Nelsinho Piquet Renault 56 +92.2 secs
12 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Ferrari 55 +1 Lap 17
13 Rubens Barrichello Honda 55 +1 Lap 14
14 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 55 +1 Lap 16
15 Anthony Davidson Super Aguri-Honda 55 +1 Lap 21
16 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 54 +2 Laps 19
17 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 54 +2 Laps 22

Trip to Coimbatore.......

Phew..!!!. Chaos again.
Had been to Coimbatore last weekend (15th & 16th March'08) to attend my ex-colleague Prakash's wedding. Had booked up the tickets a month ago. Me and my colleague Yuvi had planned to fly down to Coimbatore and then return by train. All done and here we get prepared to fly down to Coimbatore on a bit cloudy Saturday morning (15th). We planned and got to meet up at the Chennai airport at around 9.30 am for our 10.15am flight. We were to board the Paramount Airways and guys I say the service was great.

We managed to take up few snaps on our way to the flight which was actually not allowed but dint bother about things. After about 10 mins of getting the boarding passes and waiting for the bus to take us to the flight, finally I see the first airhostess of the flight and she says.. Vanakkam Sir..(meaning welcome)..and makes us comfortable on boarding the flight. To my surprise I see an kollywood actor sitting next to me in the bus waiting to board the same flight. It was none other than Karthik (Paruthiveeran hero)..or you can say it also as Suryas Brother. Great start I said to yuvi(who was enjoying his first flight experience).

(sorry for the photo clarity)

All set and the flight starts with the routine stuffs like the airhostess asking us fasten our seat belts and serving us refreshments. We both were enjoying taking good snaps and having few chit chats in between. Our flight lands sharp at 11.00 am in Coimbatore airport and we get down and again start our usual business of taking snaps next to the flight. Managed to take a snap with karthik also in the meanwhile.
The wedding went well, good food and happened to meet few friends of Coimbatore who had some plans also of taking us to few good places in and around Coimbatore. We visited the temple in Marudhamalai( abt 15 kms from Coimbatore) and had a good dharshan with the help of few counselors were over there who took us directly inside the temple without making us stand up in the que.

The fun begins here... Must be wondering why is the hurry all about... hmm.. we were suppose to catch up our train which was scheduled up at 2.10 (which was written in our e-ticket) on Sunday afternoon(16th). We finished up our visits and had to rush up to the room to pack our bags and board the train as it was already about 1.30 pm. Luckily the room was next to the station where we had stayed up. We said all the bye bye stuffs and started running to the station to board the train. We had booked up the AC compartment(B1 Coach) and to our surprise we had covered the train 4 times by running to both the ends of the train and were unable to find the compartment. Tired and sweating and the train starts moving and we had to get on to some AC compartment so that we could ask the TTR where is our coach. And the TTR says cooly, this train which you guys have booked up is at 2.10 am. Whattttttttttt..( we both r blank)... after few arguments me and Yuvi finally get down from the moving train.

We were damn tired of running up and down and finally managed to walk up to the same room were we had stayed up. I told Yuvi..give me a moment and lemme check with this guy who is sitting in the May I Help you counter.. and there comes the best part. I showed up the ticket to the guy and he says the train has already left in the morning 2.10 am i.e 16th early morning. Ohh God.. what have we got into this time..(Yuvi watches me and says sooper..you have booked the tickets great.)

As yuvi was not comfortable in traveling by bus, we had no other option than booking up another flight to Chennai and this time it was Spice Jet. The flight was scheduled at 8.00 pm and we stayed up at the room for about 2 hrs and finally reached the airport. As soon as we reached the airport it started raining heavily and we were again confused as the flight had been delayed for about an hr and we had to wait. Finally at about 9.30pm the announcement comes to board the flight. We both again started taking snaps next to flight and all of a sudden a police fella comes and says " don't you know you are not allowed to take photos here???".. me and yuvi see each other and say "no" and walk up to the flight. The police fellow had no other words to say rather than watching us both board the flight. After a lot of running , confusions and miscalculations we managed to board the flight which dint even provide us refreshments. But we weren't much concerned .. Just wanted to reach Home Sweet Home...

PEACE AT LAST!!!!!

Australian F1| Chaos| Lewis Hamilton| Mclaren

Lewis Hamilton could have not asked for more. He had opened the Formula One season with a pole to flag victory in a Chaotic Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, which happened to be a dramatic thriller that saw only seven cars finishing the race.

The race was packed with drama as the safety car had appeared thrice, nearly wiping out Hamilton’s heavy leads. Despite all the drama, the best piece of action was the one which involved Alonso and Kovalainen on the penultimate lap. Kovalainen went past the former world champion boldly, desperate to make some lost ground, but Alonso replied cheekily and overtook him a few seconds later.

Raikkonen, who started from the eight row after finishing 16th in the qualifiers, also looked impressive. He quickly climbed up and at one stage had a running battle with Kovalainen for the second spot. If it was a great day for McLaren, it was a disaster for Ferrari. Felipe Massa spun on the first lap and was then involved in an incident with Red Bull’s David Coulthard before retiring, and Kimi Raikkonen, having benefited from the second safety car intervention, slid off the road trying to pass McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen and undid all that work. Then his Ferrari let him down when he was running seventh with three laps to go.Indeed, McLaren should have had a one-two, but a third safety car intervention following a heavy accident for Toyota’s Timo Glock badly hurt Kovalainen’s chances as he had to pit when everyone had closed up. He dropped way back, was passed by Raikkonen, repassed him, then found himself overtaken by Renault’s Fernando Alonso as the Spaniard overtook both of his rivals in a wonderful move. After fighting back, Kovalainen repassed the Renault with two laps to go, only to have his car falter momentarily as they crossed the line for the 57th time. As he wiped oil off his visor he accidentally triggered the pit-lane speed limiter and a relieved Alonso pounced to head his former team mate home in fourth place.

Race Results
1. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) McLaren 1:34:50.616

2. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) BMW Sauber +00:05.478

3. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Williams - Toyota 00:08.163

4. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Renault 00:17.181

5. Heikki Kovalainen (Finland) McLaren 00:18.014

6. Rubens Barrichello (Brazi) Honda 00:52.453

7. Kazuki Nakajima (Japan) Williams - Toyota 1 lap

8. Sebastien Bourdais (France) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 3 laps

9. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari 5 laps

Kimi| Ferrari Rocks| Iceman| Raikkonen| Melbourne

The Iceman is back and back with a bang!!!. Under clear skies and in bright sunshine on 14th March , the Finn laid down a marker for Sunday's race with a best lap time of one minute, 26.461 seconds in his initial practice session. Raikkonen won in Melbourne last year on his Ferrari debut and is chasing a third successive victory after ending 2007 on a high with triumphs in China and Brazil taking him to the championship The first 45 minutes saw the Ferraris battling each other for fastest time, with Felipe Massa gaining that with 1m 27.524s ahead of Kimi Raikkonen 1m 27.709s. Then the McLarens came out and Lewis Hamilton worked down to 1m 27.386s to go fastest. Right at the end Raikkonen did two laps quicker than that, the better of which was 1m 26.461s. That compared very favourably with his pole time of 1m 26.072s from last year despite the ban on traction control and engine braking. McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, a sensational rookie last year before losing out to Raikkonen by a single point in Brazil, was top until the Ferrari driver bettered his time by 0.487 with two minutes remaining.