NASCAR 2024: What is the role of the pace car in NASCAR? All you need to know about pace cars
F1 officials in Las Vegas face embarrassment due to chaos caused by manhole covers
Formula One bosses were facing up to one of the most embarrassing days in the sport’s recent history after practic
![Manhole cover chaos causes major embarrassment for F1 chiefs in Las Vegas Manhole cover chaos causes major embarrassment for F1 chiefs in Las Vegas](https://image.thesportstak.com/images/cms/articles/fianokn8tu911njr2vwykcufo.jpg?width=180&quality=60)
Formula One bosses were facing up to one of the most embarrassing days in the sport’s recent history after practice for the much-anticipated Las Vegas Grand Prix was completed at 4am in an empty arena.
After months of hype leading up to the £500million race, the first running was abandoned with just eight minutes on the clock.
Second practice was then delayed by two and a half hours, and played out in front of vacant grandstands after furious fans were ejected to comply with local laws.
![Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc rubs his eyes before the start of the second practice session](https://images.performgroup.com/di/library/omnisport/29/ff/a982d8ae8fad4d1a8fa9a9eafe145ee6.jpg?t=-582380349)
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped the order, with Max Verstappen sixth and Lewis Hamilton ninth, but the event – billed by F1 chiefs as the greatest show on earth – dramatically unravelled more than seven hours previously.
A water valve cover broke free from the newly laid tarmac and tore into the underbelly of Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari at 210mph on the Las Vegas Boulevard.
The force of the impact visibly jolted Sainz in the cockpit and, amid a flurry of white smoke and orange sparks, disabled his machine.
Race director Niels Wittich red-flagged the session, but not before Esteban Ocon also struck the debris. On-board footage from Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin captured the 42-year-old dramatically dodging the loose drain cover.
Eleven minutes later, at 8:49pm, it was announced practice would not be resumed.
Both Sainz and Ocon escaped without injury – but their cars were severely damaged. A giant hole tore through Sainz’s Ferrari leaving his mechanics facing an extensive repair job. Team principal Frederic Vasseur, who appeared in a pre-arranged press conference moments later, was furious.
“We completely damaged the monocoque, engine and battery,” he said. “It is just unacceptable.”
Second practice had originally been scheduled to start at midnight. But it was postponed as all 30 drain covers along the 1.2-mile Las Vegas Boulevard – which runs against the backdrop of Caesars Palace, Bellagio and Venetian hotels – were inspected.
The covers were removed and holes filled with concrete and quick-drying resin in a hasty repair job. The track was finally deemed fit-for-purpose at 2:30am local time.
However, when the running resumed the stands were empty after strict labour laws posed a security risk. Some disgruntled fans, who refused to leave, were moved on by police.
A general admission ticket for the three-day event costs 500 US dollars (£400), while a hospitality suite was sold at an eye-watering 150,000 US dollars (£120,000) for the three days.
The disastrous failure in Las Vegas comes 48 hours after a Superbowl-like opening ceremony, and a day on from triple world champion Verstappen heavily criticising the staging of the Grand Prix – the first here in four decades – as “99 per cent show, and one per cent sport”.
F1 executives are keen to build on the sport’s growing popularity in the United States. The race in Nevada joins Austin and Miami as the third in America.
![Fans wait around during a delay before the second practice session](https://images.performgroup.com/di/library/omnisport/35/c6/89ea9294f1f84abc85d5e70c64ed5853.jpg?t=-588577837)
Yet the mess here drew parallels with the 2005 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis where only six drivers took part amid tyre safety fears.
Leclerc finished half-a-second clear of team-mate Sainz. Verstappen, a winner of 17 of the 20 rounds so far, was nine tenths adrift with Hamilton 1.3 sec back in his Mercedes.
Third practice is due to begin at 8.30pm on Friday (4.30am GMT on Saturday) with qualifying for Saturday’s 50-lap race taking place at midnight (8.00am GMT on Sunday).
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Sports Tak Staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Quick Links
Popular Posts
![](https://image.thesportstak.com/images/cms/articles/20240907T171155933Z892082/20240907T171155933Z892082_400_225.webp)
![](https://image.thesportstak.com/images/cms/articles/20240907T163026683Z457972/20240907T163026683Z457972_400_225.webp)
F1: Daniel Ricciardo discusses his Formula One future away from Red Bull
![](https://image.thesportstak.com/images/cms/articles/20240907T141052130Z172617/20240907T141052130Z172617_400_225.webp)
F1: Lewis Hamilton's future replacement at Mercedes confirms car number for F1 Career start
![](https://image.thesportstak.com/images/cms/articles/20240906T174510540Z566049/20240906T174510540Z566049_400_225.webp)
Legendary F1 Designer Adrian Newey to Join Aston Martin in 2025
![](https://image.thesportstak.com/images/cms/articles/20240906T140501306Z389246/20240906T140501306Z389246_400_225.webp)
Your Guide to the NASCAR Playoffs: How the System Works, Format, Schedule and more
![](https://image.thesportstak.com/images/cms/articles/20240905T195823431Z052972/20240905T195823431Z052972_400_225.webp)
NASCAR 2024 playoff: Kyle Busch unveils his new venture following playoff snub
![](https://image.thesportstak.com/images/cms/articles/20240905T170003485Z596162/20240905T170003485Z596162_400_225.webp)
NASCAR 2024: Martin Truex Jr. reuniting with championship crew chief for Daytona 500 Run
![](https://image.thesportstak.com/images/cms/articles/20240905T154806544Z543342/20240905T154806544Z543342_400_225.webp)
'I want to scare every other team...': Ryan Blaney aims to intimidate rival with an aggressive mindset heading into playoffs
![](https://image.thesportstak.com/images/cms/articles/20240905T122910356Z664433/20240905T122910356Z664433_400_225.webp)
NASCAR 2024: How many pit stops are allowed in a race?
![](https://image.thesportstak.com/images/cms/articles/20240904T171432043Z960119/20240904T171432043Z960119_400_225.webp)
2024 NASCAR Cup Series: Kevin Harvick Backs HMS Driver as Top Contender for Atlanta Playoff Win