Kimi in a good mood

From Iltalehti.fi
Translation: Lady Feanor | Editing: Evenstar Saima


Kimi was found spending his short break in Tallinn, before the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend.
Kimi and three of his friends arrived at 10.30 on Saturday morning to Tallinn for the weekend, though it’s not his first appearance in Estonia.

"I don’t want to talk about races or Kanerva right now," Kimi says, being asked about Finland’s foreign minister who’s in the middle of a scandal revolving an erotic dancer.

"Right now I’m on holiday and the sun shines
in Tallinn. We have some of our friends here," Kimi said in a VIP
area.

Regarding the political scandal, Kimi commented "But hey, isn’t it better we talk about something than nothing at all?"

Räikkönen turned the conversation to ice hockey and praised Tappara of Tampere and Blues of Espoo.

"Espoo is having good rise in the sport and one day it will come," the sunny and smiling man stated and then later asked to have privacy.

The reporter coincidentally bumped into Kimi in Tallinn, while being there to report on the foreign minister Kanerva supposedly making a speech in the area. It was a lucky chance for the reporter, as Kimi even offered to pose for a picture or two, which he rarely does.

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Bahrain is Coming

In preparation for the third round of the 2008 F1 season, Bahrain got ready by hanging huge posters on the side of buildings near the Sahkir track for this weekend. It features Kimi and Lewis Hamilton – how cool is that? Bahrain are certainly keeping the excitement rife, as the battle is between these two guys.

Although Kimi has never won at the desert track, he has visited it’s podium 3 times. In the 2006 race, Kimi started 22, dead last on the grid, and in the non-race winning McLaren MP4/21 he finished 3rd. Can he reach the top step this year? Check out the details below from ITV’s Bahrain fact file here.

Circuit length: 3.362 miles

Type of circuit: Purpose-built permanent track
Track designer: Hermann Tilke

Number of laps: 57

Lap record: 1m30.252s (Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2004)

Last year’s pole time: 1m32.652s (Felipe Massa, Ferrari)

Fastest corner: Turn 12 – flat-out sweeping right-hander, 160mph

Overtaking opportunities: Average. The typically
Tilke-designed slow final corner onto a long back straight means turn
one is a realistic shot to try an overtaking move. Other than that, the
twisty infield section means passing opportunities are limited

Usual weather: F1’s only desert event ensures it is invariably always a hot and sunny weekend.

Chances of a first corner crash: Low. Although a long run down to a tight first turn could be a recipe for chaos, there has been none of note as yet…

Venues: Bahrain International Circuit (2004 to present)

All winners:
2007 – Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
2006 – Fernando Alonso (Renault)
2005 – Fernando Alonso (Renault)
2004 – Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)

Drivers with reason to love Sakhir…
Mark Webber – The Australian has scored points in three of
F1’s four visits to Bahrain so far, and was in contention to extend
that streak last year until his RB3’s gearbox packed up.

Fernando Alonso –
Last year’s anonymous run to fifth place aside, the Spaniard has the
best record of anyone in the desert. Two wins and points finishes in
each race.

Nico Rosberg – The young German announced himself to the F1
world with a stunning debut here in 2006. He overcome a a first-lap
collision (which necessitated a pit stop for a new nosecone) to claw
his way back to seventh. The storming drive included the race’s fastest
lap.

Drivers with reason to hate Sakhir…
Kimi Raikkonen –
Three third places is hardly the sort of record that will fill Kimi
with dread heading into this weekend, but Sakhir has never been too
kind to the world champion. Technical problems meant he twice started
from the back during his McLaren days and last year he was beaten
convincingly by Massa.
Giancarlo Fisichella – While his team-mate took
back-to-back wins in ’05-’06, Fisi didn’t pick up a single point as the
usually bullet-proof Renault twice let him down. An eighth place is all
he has to show from four visits.