A1 Team India in good form for tomorrow's Street race

Durban, Feb 23 (UNI) A1 Team India warmed up its wheels to finish the practice session in the eighth place and looks confident of a good qualifying position in the A1GP's only street race here tomorrow.

A1 Team India driver, Parthiv Sureshwaren who went out in the first two twenty-five minute rookie and developing nation's practice sessions readied the car and ran the team's regular programs yesterday, including padding in the breaks.

Parthiv was first sent out on fairly new tyres, without the new brakes put in yet and was allowed to drive independently for the first few laps before following the team's regular program.

He came in to the pit lane in a respectable 8th place. Later he was put to the testing program and with his feedback, the team was able to tailor the car better for Karthikeyan's session later in the afternoon.

Narain Karthikeyan stepped in for the last practice session for the day and managed to keep the Team India car consistently in the top 5 - clearly showing he was on the pace.

Parthiv seemed satisfied with his efforts in the pratice sessions and said, ''It is a track I've never driven on before and I really enjoyed it. I haven't driven on a street circuit in seven years since I drove in Macau. The team was happy with the program and feedback I provided before Narain's drive.'' Narain Karthikeyan later conceded, ''I think we had a reasonable first day. We've made some more changes for tomorrow, which I'm sure will improve our performance. I'm really looking forward to this weekend.'' Yesterday's last practice session saw several experienced lead drivers losing their line and with no safety gravel edges and bends to drive off on to, their cars went into the barricades and were brought into the pit lane.

The team's traditionally very strong on the circuit, A1 Team Netherlands and A1 Team Germany topped the practice sessions.

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