Small crowd in Istanbul sees Bruno Senna hit dog

A thin crowd at Istanbul Park witnessed a strange and dangerous moment in the GP2 race before the the Formula One Grand Prix when Bruno Senna(nephew of the late, great Ayrton), hit and killed a stray dog. The animal was running along the track with another when the GP2 cars approached at speed. One car missed them but Senna had no chance of avoiding the black and white dog when it suddenly ran into his front left wheel. Result: smashed suspension; dead dog.

This is, needless to say, highly dangerous. Had Bruno hit it head on, it could have killed him. The young Brazilian looked angry when he got back to the pits. It seems he was annoyed with his pitwall for not warning him there were animals on the track. With all the sharp-shooters around Istanbul Park where the security level is high, it is surprising the dogs ever made it to the track. Apparently this area of land used to be a big wild dog nightclub before they built the track and dogs keep coming back. Let's hope none of the Formula One drivers hit a white elephant during this afternoon's Grand Prix.

Afterwards Senna commented as follows:
“The race was going really well up until the incident with the dog. I made a good start, kept out of trouble and seized every opportunity that came my way without taking any risks. The car was really good and I knew we could score some useful points. I was following Mike Conway quite closely when he suddenly moved to the right. I thought he had a problem so I went to the left… and that’s when I saw the dog for the first time. It ran right, so I went left, but then it turned again, hit my wheel and that was that. I couldn’t believe it.”

Ferrari's current rich vein of performance is causing grumbling elsewhere on the pitlane. Have they got 30 extra horse-power? Have they been subject to the same level of scrutineering of their engines as everyone else? I checked with the man from the FIA and the rule-making body is quite happy that all is in order and Ferrari are operating under the same rules and regs as everyone else.

A few "rubbish" pics of the Renault garage for your enjoyment. Click on image to enlarge.

Comments

[Weasel]

Well I don't know about dogs on the track, but didn't Silverstone have a human running on the track during the British GP a few years back? Lucky for Senna, as you say - could have been disastrous.

As for the FIA being happy with Ferrari, well they would be wouldn't they? It's hardly surprising, considering they didn't penalize Ferrari for moving floors in Melbourne 2007 - something which ultimately gave Kimi Raikkonen the WDC and which I still consider to be contentious, as Ferrari and their drivers should probably have been stripped of points.

C'mon Ed - when are you going to stop being so naive in respect of Ferrari and the FIA, and realize that the rules are 'flexible' only when it comes to Ferrari - just like the floors in their cars were?

[Anon]

Today Max Mosley released a statement about the incident:

"This s scandalous. This dog has really stained the reputation of racing. What was he thinking, rake-testing Senna like h did? I am sure he will be given a just ten-position penalty for the next race."

[D]

^
Thanks for the pictures, Ed!

By the way, and since the name Senna arises, did anybody notice, in passing, this quote in the Guardian from Rubens Barrichello, ruminating about his past fifteen years in Formula One?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/may/10/formulaone.motorsports

"There were a lot of good people in the team (Ferrari) and, of course, it was great to work with Michael Schumacher. He is the best driver I have ever met and he had just so much natural talent at getting the speed out of the car."

Rubens entered Formula One in 1993. So, among those he's met and driven alongside - and was comparing with Michael - were Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, Mika Hakkinen, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Räikkönen. And? Ayrton Senna da Silva.

So, it was an interesting comment, I thought.

[daniel]

Here's the accident... poor mutt!

http://jalopnik.com/389361/senna-hits-stray-dog-ends-day-at-turkish-grand-prix?autoplay=true