Rally Mexico and IndyCar opener
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Autosport
With that dramatic turn, it's time to close Autosport Live for the weekend. We're off to Tesco car park to find the next Kris Meeke.
Stick with Autosport's news pages for reaction and news from Mexico, St Petersburg and the rest of the motorsport world. See you soon.
Stick with Autosport's news pages for reaction and news from Mexico, St Petersburg and the rest of the motorsport world. See you soon.
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As you can see below, we weren't exaggerating by Kris Meeke ending in a car park. He was only seconds away from throwing away a tough victory. Autosport Live still can't watch...
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Autosport
Rally Mexico wasn't the only place we've seen drama today. Here's a report of the IndyCar race from St Petersburg, the opening round of the season.
Information
With the powerstage rules changing for this season, here's a look at the final stage and who scored the points.
Powerstage SS19
1 Neuville 12m13.9s (five points)
2 Ogier +0.3s (four points)
3 Tanak +3.8s (three points)
4 Latvala +8s (two points)
5 Sordo +9.8s (one poiint)
Powerstage SS19
1 Neuville 12m13.9s (five points)
2 Ogier +0.3s (four points)
3 Tanak +3.8s (three points)
4 Latvala +8s (two points)
5 Sordo +9.8s (one poiint)
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Checkered flag
Here we go, here's some times for the stage and the rally.
SS19
1 Neuville 12m13.9s
2 Ogier +0.3s
3 Tanak +3.8s
4 Latvala +8s
5 Sordo +9.8s
6 Evans +9.9s
Overall after SS19
1 Meeke 3h22m04.6s
2 Ogier +13.8s
3 Neuville +59.7s
4 Tanak +2m18.3s
5 Paddon +3m32.9s
6 Latvala +4m40.3s
SS19
1 Neuville 12m13.9s
2 Ogier +0.3s
3 Tanak +3.8s
4 Latvala +8s
5 Sordo +9.8s
6 Evans +9.9s
Overall after SS19
1 Meeke 3h22m04.6s
2 Ogier +13.8s
3 Neuville +59.7s
4 Tanak +2m18.3s
5 Paddon +3m32.9s
6 Latvala +4m40.3s
Now, to regroup. Not a rally regroup, but we need to regroup!
Thierry Neuville braves a smile to Paul Nagle and gets the slightest of grins in return. The two are absolutely shell shocked.
That will be a great onboard to watch post event. A huge amount of luck. What just happened?!
Quote
The Brit describes his car park visit, Paul Nagle can't speak and Kris Meeke is forcing the words out of his mouth. He can barely stand.
"I got caught out on a bump after jump," he explains. "I'm a lucky, lucky boy. It's certainly one way to finish a rally. A lot of things went my way."
"I got caught out on a bump after jump," he explains. "I'm a lucky, lucky boy. It's certainly one way to finish a rally. A lot of things went my way."
The Northern Irishman went off on the powerstage but got back onto the stage and wins by 13.8s over Sebastien Ogier.
A quick pause for Live as we may be having a heart attack.
A quick pause for Live as we may be having a heart attack.
Checkered flag
HE WINS. KRIS MEEKE WINS VIA A CAR PARK!
Crash
Issues for Kris Meeke, he's back on the road but how much time has he lost? Rally lead at stake.
Quote
Ogier is pleased as he takes the championship lead with second on Rally Mexico. Another tactical masterclass from the maestro.
"Unfortunately my foot got stuck on a tight corner so we maybe lost a few seconds," he says. "It's a good result, we have to happy for that."
"Unfortunately my foot got stuck on a tight corner so we maybe lost a few seconds," he says. "It's a good result, we have to happy for that."
Stopwatch
And he completes to take the second position on the power stage, just 0.3s slower than Neuville. Just rally leader Kris Meeke to complete now.
Stopwatch
Our rally leader Kris Meeke is slower than Ogier at the first split, so it doesn't look like he's targeting a huge push on the power stage.
Ogier meanwhile is almost at stage end...
Ogier meanwhile is almost at stage end...
Stopwatch
Hyundai man FINISHES A RALLY! The Belgian completes 3.8s quicker than Tanak and goes quickest.
Stopwatch
Ogier goes quickest by 0.9s at the first split, and Kris Meeke, our rally leader, has just joined the stage.
Stopwatch
Sebastien Ogier enters the stage as we have Ott Tanak at the other end.
The Estonian goes fastest by an incredible 4.2s. He's clearly had a push through there.
The Estonian goes fastest by an incredible 4.2s. He's clearly had a push through there.
Stopwatch
Tanak is flying and three seconds quicker than Latvala, the pacesetter, at the third split.
Stopwatch
Kiwi Hayden Paddon secures fifth with fourth fastest on the powerstage. Doubtful that will be enough for powerstage points.
Stopwatch
Hanninen is next, with Tanak and Neuville also in the stage.
The Finn Hanninen completes and holds on to seventh overall ahead of Sordo. He's been ill all weekend and earns the Autosport Live perseverance award for making it to the end of the event.
The Finn Hanninen completes and holds on to seventh overall ahead of Sordo. He's been ill all weekend and earns the Autosport Live perseverance award for making it to the end of the event.
Quote
Next in is Latvala who goes quickest on the powerstage so far. He's chirpy at stage end and will take at least sixth overall.
"I really pushed hard," he says. "Lets wait and see."
"I really pushed hard," he says. "Lets wait and see."
Stopwatch
Sordo jumps Evans by 0.1s to go quickest. He's unlikely to move from eighth overall with a half a minute gap to Juho Hanninen ahead.
Quote
Elfyn Evans completes the stage and he's quickest by 19.2s.
"I don't know, it's very lose, I'm sure it's going to clean-up a lot," says Evans of his chances of powerstage points. "I had quite a bit of oversteer in places. We tried. It's been a tricky weekend. Overall I think we have to be pretty happy."
"I don't know, it's very lose, I'm sure it's going to clean-up a lot," says Evans of his chances of powerstage points. "I had quite a bit of oversteer in places. We tried. It's been a tricky weekend. Overall I think we have to be pretty happy."
WRC
Evans, Sordo and Latvala are all into our powerstage now.
A quick reminder of the new powerstage points system, which has changed for this year:
1 five points
2 four points
3 three points
4 two points
5 one point
A quick reminder of the new powerstage points system, which has changed for this year:
1 five points
2 four points
3 three points
4 two points
5 one point
IndyCar
The final top ten:
1. Sebastien Bourdais
2. Simon Pagenaud
3. Scott Dixon
4. Ryan Hunter-Reay
5. Takuma Sato
6. Helio Castroneves
7. Marco Andretti
8. Josef Newgarden
9. James Hinchcliffe
10. Ed Jones
1. Sebastien Bourdais
2. Simon Pagenaud
3. Scott Dixon
4. Ryan Hunter-Reay
5. Takuma Sato
6. Helio Castroneves
7. Marco Andretti
8. Josef Newgarden
9. James Hinchcliffe
10. Ed Jones
WRC
Pontus Tidemand is through and has took WRC2. He also won the last round in Sweden, but was pushed much harder on this round by Eric Camilli.
The Frenchman predicted rain which didn't come this morning, ruling him out of the lead battle losing over 20s.
The Frenchman predicted rain which didn't come this morning, ruling him out of the lead battle losing over 20s.
IndyCar
He follows up his wow with a few celebratory doughnuts!
"We knew we'd be much better than we were before and everyone did the perfect job," says team owner Dale Coyne.
"We knew we'd be much better than we were before and everyone did the perfect job," says team owner Dale Coyne.
Checkered flag
Bourdais wins the Grand Prix of St Petersburg!
He finishes well clear of reigning champion Simon Pagenaud. It's Dale Coyne Racing's first win since 2014!
"Wow," is his reaction.
He finishes well clear of reigning champion Simon Pagenaud. It's Dale Coyne Racing's first win since 2014!
"Wow," is his reaction.
IndyCar
Bourdais is on the last lap.
"Bring it home" is the call from the pit wall.
"Bring it home" is the call from the pit wall.
IndyCar
With two laps to go, Bourdais extends his lead to 9s.
Pagenaud might have felt there was an opening after the final stop, but Bourdais has been untouchable.
Pagenaud might have felt there was an opening after the final stop, but Bourdais has been untouchable.
IndyCar
The top five is looking settled, except for Sato and Hunter-Reay.
The latter is within 1.5s but Sato is starting to lap fastere.
Sato's four seasons with AJ Foyt was mixed, but he could be set for a good start to his Andretti career.
The latter is within 1.5s but Sato is starting to lap fastere.
Sato's four seasons with AJ Foyt was mixed, but he could be set for a good start to his Andretti career.
IndyCar
FIVE LAPS TO GO!
Bourdais lead is now 7.3s clear, it's his to lose as Pagenaud follows in second. Scott Dixon is still a lonely third.
Bourdais lead is now 7.3s clear, it's his to lose as Pagenaud follows in second. Scott Dixon is still a lonely third.
IndyCar
Pagenaud gets the call to go for 'map one' from the team, but is that an order for more fuel burn or less? Intriguing end in sight for the final six laps.
WRC
We've got our first 2017 car into the stage in Mexico, Stephane Lefebvre is pushing his Citroen C3 through the test.
He rolled yesterday taking him out of any sort of decent finish.
He rolled yesterday taking him out of any sort of decent finish.
IndyCar
That's a good lap from Bourdais, he's now 5.6s clear of Pagenaud in a Honda v Chevrolet battle.
By: Matt Beer
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