Abu Dhabi, UAE (My Sportsbook) - Series: Formula One. Date: Sunday, November 1. Race: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (inaugural event). Site: Yas Marina Circuit. Track: 5.554 km (3.451 miles), 21-turn road course. Start Time: 8:00 a.m. (et). Laps: 55. Miles: 189.805. Television: SpeedChannel.
The 2009 Formula One calendar concludes this weekend with the first running of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
While the Abu Dhabi GP should be entertaining, the F1 driver championship and constructors' title have already been wrapped up. Jenson Button won his first world championship with a fifth-place finish two weeks ago in the Brazilian Grand Prix. Brawn GP also clinched the constructors' title in Brazil.
Button began this season by winning six of the first seven races, but has not finished better than fifth since his victory in the June 7 Turkish Grand Prix. He will come to Abu Dhabi with an impassable 15-point lead over Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel and a 17-point advantage over his Brawn teammate Rubens Barrichello. A driver can score a maximum of 10 points only in each grand prix.
"This season has been a roller coaster ride from the elation of the wins at the start to the hard graft in the second half of the season which has seen us grind out the results needed to take the [driver and constructors'] titles," Button said.
Drivers have yet to experience Abu Dhabi's newly-built Yas Marina Circuit, but they've certainly read about it or perhaps sampled it on a simulator in preparation for the 55-lap event.
Fernando Alonso won the most recent F1 inaugural event -- the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.
"I always enjoy the challenge of a new circuit, and the track in Abu Dhabi looks very impressive," Alonso said. "It will be a new experience for everyone, so it's important that we maximize all the sessions and learn as much as we can quickly to try and find an advantage."
Alonso will make his final start for Renault before heading to Ferrari for next season. Alonso is replacing Kimi Raikkonen, who is likely moving to McLaren to team up with Lewis Hamilton.
"The race in Abu Dhabi will be my last grand prix with Ferrari, and as usual, I will give it everything to gain the best possible result," Raikkonen said.
For the second straight grand prix, reserve driver Kamui Kobayashi will substitute for the injured Timo Glock at Toyota. Glock suffered a cracked vertebra during a crash in qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix earlier this month. He is expected to make a full recovery in time for next year's season- opener in Bahrain.
