Filippi, running with series newcomer QI-Meritus, had 'only' qualified sixth after the team lost most of the morning rebuilding his car following a practice shunt, but was quickly up to fourth as Chandhok fluffed his getaway. Waiting almost until last to change his tyres, Filippi worked his way to the front of the field - only to find his in-lap blighted by the inattentive Jason Tahinci. His fury continuing right the way to his pit box, the delayed Filippi re-emerged not only behind Valles - whom he had also beaten off the line - but also out of the reckoning for a podium.
Chandhok, meanwhile, slipped to fifth at the start and then compromised any hopes of a comeback by spinning as he left the pits. The dusty track had already caught a few out, but the Indian lost his iSport mount at relatively slow speed as he encountered Armaan Ebrahim passing pit exit. The loop cost Chandhok a couple of spots, but he appeared still to be on course for a handful of points before another rotation in the late stages dropped him to eighth. The only consolation now is that he will start on pole for Saturday's sprint event.
Filling the gap between Filippi and Chandhok, Hiroki Yoshimoto followed Valles' lead in making a quiet return, while Sebastien Buemi made the most of Chandhok's second spin to double his points haul. The Swiss driver had earlier been involved in a close battle with Christian Bakkerud, before the Dane - one of the race's earliest stoppers - got a little optimistic defending his line on fresh rubber. Not recognising quite how far Buemi was alongside, Bakkerud turned in and was promptly spun off and out.
![Romain Grosjean - ART Grand Prix [pic credit: GP2 Series]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/404017.jpg)
