Giovinazzi claims surprise win after safety car chaos
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Antonio Giovinazzi has stunned the GP2 Series with victory in the feature race of his home round at Monza after a misjudged safety car caused havoc midway through the race.
After the heartbreak of losing his front row start for a tyre infringement, one of his Pirelli tyres was inflated below the minimum pressure, Giovinazzi recovered from being demoted to 21st on the grid to take a memorable win noted for a safety car gaffe which almost left the front three a lap ahead of the field.
After pole sitter Pierre Gasly held on to his lead through the opening bends, Giovinazzi on the alternate strategy narrowly avoided shunting into the stalled Sean Gelael off the line.
Championship leader Gasly duly built up a useful time advantage over the chasing pack before pitting and returning to the action ahead of those on the same strategy and 20 seconds off of Raffaele Marciello, Gustav Malja and Giovinazzi running a longer stint on the harder tyres.
However, the race was turned on its head when Arthur Pic collided with Sergio Canamasas on the inside of the Parabolica which sent the Spanish driver into a dramatic roll and meant both cars were out of the race instantly.
With the safety car called out after the crash the trio took the opportunity to effectively take a free pit stop but what confused matters was when the safety car picked up Gasly who had been running fourth while allowing the pitted trio to escape ahead and join the back of the train.
Once this was realised and the top three had a lap on the rest of the field, the safety car effectively let the whole field pass to get back on the lead lap. The extra time behind the safety car ensured a sprint race to the finish with Marciello leading Malja and Giovinazzi.
Giovinazzi was able to prove his impressive talents in a GP2 car by passing both Malja and Marciello in consecutive laps, with identical moves up the inside at turn one, and storm to an emotional victory.
Maricello held on to second to cap an Italian 1-2 with Malja completing the rostrum ahead of Gasly and Norman Nato. Luca Ghiotto claimed sixth in front of Jordan King and Mitch Evans as Oliver Rowland and Artem Markelov rounded out the points-paying positions.
