Karthikeyan relaxed after ‘best-ever’ run

In an incident-free run, unlike those in Melbourne and Sepang, Narain in the morning session was 15th with 1:35.984s, but later managed to shave off two full seconds (1:33.981) for an 18th place among 21 drivers (three of them being testers).

He made it a point to say, for probably the first time, that he managed to ‘‘find the right racing line,” which obviously reflected in his performance. Indeed, he described as ‘‘a run as if I knew the circuit beforehand’’.

Both practice sessions saw Narain stay ahead of his teammate Tiago Monteiro and the Minardis and, unbelievably, 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve (Sauber Petronas).

JV was 17th (137.112) and 20th (1:34.300) in both sessions respectively. ‘‘That’s something to cheer about…at least psychologically one feels content’’, remarked Narain.

What made the difference? Narain attributes it to the Bridgestone tyres and set-up changes in aerodynamics that worked wonderfully.

‘‘The car (EJ14) was simply on song.’’

With all the talk about dust, wind and sand, Narain was quick to point out that it was difficult but ‘‘for a first ride quite satisfying’’, and gives hope that qualifying will be a shade faster.

End of the road for Klien’s earrings

: Austrian Christian Klien accepts his jewellery’s racing days in Formula One are over. “I just heard that there is a new rule and we are not allowed to wear any earrings or chains (during races),” said the Red Bull driver at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Thursday, a day after an announcement by the sport’s governing body. The FIA said its Medical Commission had decided, for safety reasons, that drivers would no longer be allowed to race with body piercings or heavy neck chains. “In the end it makes no difference. I’ll just take it off for two hours in the race and then put it on again,” said Klien, the only driver to wear an earring other than Red Bull’s Italian test driver Vitantonio Liuzzi. “I’ve raced with my earring since I was 11,” added the Austrian. “I don’t know why they did this rule. I think personally it is not really necessary but I have no problem with it.” (Reuters)