"...Oh, drama in Sector 1 on Lap 30 at the Australian Grand Prix! Yellow flags are out at George Park Circuit, and it's Denko Rutherford in trouble! He's spun off at Turn 3, parked on the runoff—his race is done...!"
"...Looks like Rodnick went for a bold inside move on Denko in that tight hairpin, misjudged it, and hit his rear! No major damage, but Denko's spun, and Rodnick's limped through, still running into P8...!"
"WOOOOOOOOOOOH!"
Lap 31 was instantly halted by yellow flags as the virtual safety car began to run. Suddenly, Luca found himself so close to Ailbeart's Renault he could almost touch it if he reached out.
The 4-second gap had been obliterated, thanks to the VSC parade. Even Luigi was just two car lengths ahead. Great.
XXX— Denko Rutherford
Finally, a crash at George Park after forty-five grueling minutes of racing. In truth, every driver still on the grid deserved praise for enduring this far on George Park's treacherous layout, with only one DNF from a crash.
It was as if the circuit—George Park itself—was a bit frustrated it hadn't claid more wrecks like it was ant to. With the new track design, predictions had only 13–15 drivers left by now, but 18 were still battling, holding firm.
And it seed Rodnick was largely responsible for Denko's crash. A possible penalty review was promptly launched by race control, and everyone in Jackson Racing's garage, plus all their fans and supporters, held their breaths.
Luca was already carrying a penalty. For Rodnick to get slapped with one too would strike Jackson Racing hard, forcing them to scramble to their drawing boards for a Plan D, as such a double blow was never anticipated in any race.
"...Marcellus Rodnick, 10-second ti penalty for causing a collision with Denko Rutherford, at Turn 3, Lap 30. Penalty to be served during the next pitstop or added to race ti...."
"WOOOOOOOOOOOHH!"
" ...BIG NEWS AT THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX! RODNICK'S BEEN HIT WITH A 10-SECOND PENALTY FOR THAT TURN 3 CLASH! IT WAS A COSTLY MISJUDGNT, TAKING OUT RUTHERFORD'S RACE AND NOW STINGING JACKSON RACING HARD!…"
**Rodnick's been handed a 10-sec penalty. I repeat; Rodnick's been handed a 10-sec penalty**
Damn.
Rodnick was fuming, slamming his wheel so hard that Mr. Berry and the crew warned him he might wreck it.
**I FUCKING HATE THIS SPORT! FUCK!**
**Focus on race—you are not out yet. Tires are dying, we'll pit and take the penalty. Quick. Fast. And get back into it. Focus on race**
Jackson quickly planned to pit Rodnick on Lap 32, right after the virtual safety car lifted, hoping he'd have enough laps to claw back points before the checkered flag. They also set to pit Luca around Lap 35, three laps later, to serve his 5-second penalty early and soften its blow on his P3 fight.
**Luca, we're planning your pit on Lap 35 to serve the 5-second penalty**
**Push hard now, stay close to Ailbeart—tires are holding for you**
That was the best thing to co out of the double yellow flags session. The safety car had forced the pack to bunch up, slashing gaps, so Luca had a shot to overtake Ailbeart once he spotted an opening when the race restarted.
But as he mulled it over, Luca really didn't like the idea of the VSC session anymore. Not one bit. The sa tight pack that gave him a chance at Ailbeart would make his pitstop a nightmare, dropping him far back in a crowded field with little room to recover.
Y'know, if he was going to serve his pit stop soon, the bunched-up nature of the track now ant there'd be far too many drivers way too close. Upon reentry, he'd likely drop a significant number of positions.
Had the track still been spaced out, he could've returned sowhere around the P3 he left off at—maybe P6 at worst. But now? That was very unlikely.
[31st Lap (R)]
"...And we're back racing on Lap 32 at the Australian Grand Prix, with the virtual safety car off and George Park Circuit alive...!
Luigi resud the Australian Grand Prix, seconded by Ailbeart and Luca followed with an impressive Grid Launch.
[Analyzing Ferrari (JRX-92B) and host's distance from 2nd Position]
[You are 0.5 seconds away, host.]
[Slipstream Status: ENGAGING]
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