Team Lotus end Karun Chandhok's dream of racing in Indian Grand Prix

[CNR]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011...?newsfeed=true

[CaptainRaiden]

As gutted as Karun must be feeling right now, I have to say I agree with Tony Fernandes' decision, as being a small team the most important thing for them is to accumulate points, and so going with experience is the best and most pragmatic approach.

[Dave B]

I agree with both of the above. Lotus have a genuine chance of 10th place, and an outside shot at scoring a point or two if luck falls their way, so much as I like Karun I think that leaving Trulli in the car is the best plan.

Of course, if Trulli wipes himself out on lap one then we'll all jump in our "what might have been" time machine....

[ioan]

They will get no points anyway, so what would they lose?

[DexDexter]

Great news from Lotus. If the team wants to be taken seriously, they cannot change drivers based on anything else than speed.

They will get no points anyway, so what would they lose?

As I've explained you before, it's about the 10th position in the constructors championship, you don't have to finish in the points for that.

[AndyL]

As I've explained you before, it's about the 10th position in the constructors championship, you don't have to finish in the points for that.

And it's a particularly precarious position, because with the 3 newest teams rarely beating any of the established teams, it's likely to be decided by the one race of the season that happens to have the most retirements further up the field.

[Dave B]

The exact payments for constructors is shrouded in secrecy - as are most F1 financial matters - but Joe Saward has some likely estimates.

Thus 10th place in worth in the region of $33 million, while 11th is worth just $10 million.

The full explanation is here: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2011/...om-team-lotus/

I feel for Chandok, he's a really good guy, but the simple fact is that Trulli is a more realistic bet for bringing the car home safely.

[Nikki Katz]

Not that I really like the idea of pay drivers, nor do I think Chandhok would be better than Trulli (especially after that last performance), but for the sake of one race I would've taken the money and entered him.

[Koz]

but for the sake of one race I would've taken the money and entered him.

Why? What is the logic behind that???

Should we go out and find a Hungarian driver for the Hungarian GP?
A Korean driver for the Korean GP?
A Chinese driver?

This is F1, not A1GP.
There is an Indian team on the grid, is that not enough?

[Koz]

Hell, RedBull have already won both championships... Maybe they should put KC or NK in for Webber or Vettel...