Jensen Button Wins Istanbul Grand Prix 2009

The sweet taste of victory came Jensen Button's way at this year's Turkish Grand Prix in Istanbul - Button's sixth win in seven races this season, driving with focused precision. Starting second on the grid, he quickly assumed control of the race at Istanbul Park. He then proceeded to have a pleasant 'Sunday drive' to victory.

The initial Turkish Grand Prix took place in 2005. The race runs at the juncture where Eastern culture meets Western culture in Istanbul.
Istanbul Park has a circuit length of 5.338 kilometers. The Turkish Formula 1 Grand Prix is a 58-lap race. The race distance is 309.396 kilometers.

This course rests on four different ground levels, with plunging turns and rising grades. Istanbul Park runs anti-clockwise, with eight left and six right turns strategically placed throughout the venue. Brazil's Grand Prix course also runs anti-clockwise.

With this type of circuit, the strain on drivers' necks is pronounced. Driver's typically race on clockwise circuits and their neck muscles attune to right turns. On anti-clockwise courses, they must adjust. They feel the strain more as G-forces put stress on their necks in a different way.

When Qualifying was over on the Saturday, Germany's Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull Racing emerged as the pole sitter. Second place was Button's, with third place going to Buttons' Brawn GP teammate Rubens Barrichello. The first lap of Sunday's race was the only time Vettel led, albeit it for a short time.

With race ignition, Sebastian Vettel got a clean start with Jenson Button in pursuit. Rubens Barrichello had a disastrous start when he experienced clutch trouble. He appeared stationary on the grid as other racers whipped past him. In fact, he dropped from his third position to tenth immediately with this poor start.

Sebastian Vettel lost his lead when he miscued exiting on Turn 9. He ran wide at this spot and Jenson Button took advantage of the driver's error. Button overtook him, passing him on the right side. From there it was clear driving all the way for the Brawn-Mercedes driver.

Button proceeded to build a lead of almost a dozen seconds before his first pit stop. Later in the race, Vettel did make a charge to close the gap and did get close. This was before his second pit stop when his car's fuel load was lighter and the car was faster. However, he was unable to rein in Button and lost his opportunity to overtake him. Vettel himself admitted, post-race, that Button's car was too fast on this day. He felt that even without his driver error he would not have matched Button's pace.

For Button's teammate Barrichello, the day deteriorated after his starting grid trouble. His car went into anti-stall mode with the clutch trouble, and then things didn't get any better. He and Heikki Kovalainen of McLaren bumped during the race. Barrichello then clipped Force India's Adrian Sutil, which forced Barrichello to pit for a new front wing. He ended up withdrawing from the race on lap 48 with transmission problems. This was the first time this season that a Brawn racecar failed to complete an F1 race.

Mark Webber, Vettel's Red Bull teammate drove a clean race and finished second. He drove hard throughout the Turkish Grand Prix, pushing his pace, and he matched his previous best result. Webber took over second place passing Vettel when Vettel pitted for his second stop of the day.

Jarno Trulli of Toyota battled hard as well and took fourth spot. Nico Rosberg of Williams had a season-best fifth place finish. Ferrari's Felipe Massa crossed the finish line in sixth. It was a battle for seventh and eighth throughout the day. In the end, BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica held off Toyota's Timo Glock. This rounded out the top eight drivers eligible for winning points in this race.

Jenson Button's fellow Brit, Lewis Hamilton finished the race in thirteenth place. He was last year's World Driving Champion. Hamilton said that thirteenth was the best he could do with a car that lacked grip and it could be the Monaco Grand Prix 2010 before he is up on the podium again.

Kazuki Nakajima of Williams had a horrendous pit stop. He lost valuable time when his crew had trouble reattaching the front left tire covering. The seconds lost put him out of the points this day.

Jenson Button took the chequered flag in a time of 1:26:24.848. It was his fourth consecutive win this year. With six wins in seven starts, Button joins the ranks of other Formula 1 stalwarts who did the same. These are Alberto Ascari, Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, and Michael Schumacher. What's telling is these premier drivers then went on to win the world championship title.

Jenson Button leads the Driver Standings with 61 points. Rubens Barrichello holds down second place with 35 points. Sebastian Vettel sits in third with 29 points. For Team Standings, Brawn-Mercedes is in first with 96 points. RBR-Renault has 56.50 points, with Toyota in third with 32.50 points.

Next up is the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on June 21. It's a homecoming for Jenson Button, as well as Lewis Hamilton, last year's World Champion.

More details about next year's Grand Prix season can be found at monacoproperty.net/grand_prix

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