Doornbos, Kubica, Becker & ZanardiRed Bull`s `Friday` driver, Robert Doornbos, suffered the ignominious honour of whopping the first FIA-imposed fine of 2006 yesterday in Bahrain. After forgetting to press his speed limiter button in pit lane, the Dutchman will have to pay a huge $6250 penalty.
F1`s new V8 engines have made Bahrain `easier to drive`, according to BMW Sauber Friday driver Robert Kubica. After catching the headlines by going quickest in the morning session, the Pole said: "The two quickest corners are flat out now."
A familiar face has bobbed up in the Sakhir pitlane - Boris Becker. The German tennis legend was spotted in conversation with British `Jamiroquai` front-man Jay Kay, another interesting celebrity counterpart at the first GP of 2006. Notably, also in Bahrain is Emma Parker-Bowles (Camilla`s niece).
While F1 `06 kicked off in Bahrain on Friday, Turin launched the winter Paralympics in Italy. A special guest at the opening ceremony, attended by 30,000, was Alex Zanardi - the former Formula One and Champ Car driver who in 2001 lost both his legs in a horrific crash at EuroSpeedway. "I never lost my enthusiasm," Zanardi - who returned to racing in the WTCC with hand-controls - told the Toronto Star `paper.
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