Motorsports

Formula E snaps a photo finish in 2016 Buenos Aires ePrix [w/videos]

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It's been the better part of a month since we've seen a Formula E race. But the electric racing series charged back into action this weekend for the 2016 Buenos Aires ePrix. And it proved one of the most electrifying races so far.

After qualifying and the top-five Super Pole shootout, it was Sam Bird (DS Virgin) who landed on pole, followed by Nicolas Prost (Renault e.Dams), Antonio Felix da Costa (Aguri), and the Venturi duo of Stephane Sarrazin and Mike Conway. Defending champion Nelson Piquet Jr started in ninth place, while current frontrunner Sebastien Buemi was relegated all the way to the back of the starting grid after an unfortunate spin during qualifying.

Having already proven his mettle by winning two races last season, Bird successfully fended off the advances of his rivals off the line and kept them at bay. But while he opened up a commanding lead at the front of the field, further back, Buemi was fighting his way up the field. The Swiss driver catapulted from eighteenth and last to fifteenth place in one gutsy move on the opening lap, then proceeded to pass one rival after another.


Buemi caught a break when da Costa, who had been pushing Bird for the lead, slowed to a halt halfway through the race. Out came the safety car, corralling the field and closing all gaps. Buemi slipped into third by the mid-race pit stop with only Bird and Lucas di Grassi standing between him and the checkered flag.

Buemi took second as di Grassi pressed Bird for the lead with just two laps to go, but tried as he did, he couldn't get past Bird at the front. Ultimately Bird crossed the finish line after a command performance but with Buemi just 0.716 seconds behind him in the closest finish so far this season – and the second closest photo finish since Scott Speed came in just 0.433 seconds adrift of Nicolas Prost in the 2015 Miami ePrix.


That left Buemi in second, followed by di Grassi in third. The remaining points positions were taken by Sarrazin, Prost, Duval, Heidfeld, Frijns, Turvey, and Senna. The results further extend Buemi's title lead to 80 points, over di Grassi's 76. Bird is now third with 52 points, ahead of Duval and Jerome d'Ambrosio. Meanwhile Renault e.Dams holds a commanding lead in the teams' standings with 101 points to Abt Audi's 86 and Dragon's 62. The championship resumes on March 12 in Mexico City.

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