1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,907 Speaker 1: from News Talks edb. 3 00:00:12,627 --> 00:00:15,547 Speaker 2: Yim Lawson showed his class in a wet and wild 4 00:00:15,627 --> 00:00:19,387 Speaker 2: qualifying session for Formula one's Las Vegas Groan Prix. He'll 5 00:00:19,387 --> 00:00:22,547 Speaker 2: start sixth on the grid. It's laws in second top 6 00:00:22,587 --> 00:00:26,427 Speaker 2: ten start in succession qualifying and finishing seventh in Brazil 7 00:00:26,827 --> 00:00:30,067 Speaker 2: earlier this month. Let's bring in journalist with the Las 8 00:00:30,147 --> 00:00:35,147 Speaker 2: Vegas Review Journal, Mick Aikers Make. How treacherous were conditions 9 00:00:35,267 --> 00:00:36,107 Speaker 2: during qualifying? 10 00:00:37,067 --> 00:00:39,107 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know early on and yeah, it looked like 11 00:00:39,147 --> 00:00:41,747 Speaker 3: the rain wasn't gonna kind of last throughout the night. 12 00:00:41,827 --> 00:00:45,027 Speaker 3: But somehow, some way, the radar got defied and it 13 00:00:45,107 --> 00:00:48,307 Speaker 3: started pouring, you know, missic into the last few minutes 14 00:00:48,307 --> 00:00:51,467 Speaker 3: of qualifying, because you can visibly see the water flying 15 00:00:51,547 --> 00:00:53,707 Speaker 3: up on the starting grade, and they kept coming by 16 00:00:53,747 --> 00:00:54,787 Speaker 3: and qualifying. 17 00:00:55,107 --> 00:00:56,827 Speaker 4: He saw slideouts. 18 00:00:57,547 --> 00:01:00,507 Speaker 3: It was pretty treacherous, but I think the crowd ticket, well, 19 00:01:00,627 --> 00:01:03,507 Speaker 3: the grandstands were filled up. They're out there having fun, so, 20 00:01:04,027 --> 00:01:07,227 Speaker 3: you know, despite their reign, it's really it's not unusual occurrence. 21 00:01:07,227 --> 00:01:09,507 Speaker 3: I heard in November in Las Vegas, so it's little 22 00:01:10,187 --> 00:01:10,827 Speaker 3: an anomaly. 23 00:01:10,827 --> 00:01:12,347 Speaker 4: I would say, but you know, people took it in. 24 00:01:12,387 --> 00:01:15,747 Speaker 3: The drivers obviously did what they could, but kind of 25 00:01:15,947 --> 00:01:19,107 Speaker 3: provide a little bit more you know, excitement for the race. 26 00:01:19,147 --> 00:01:22,387 Speaker 2: I think indeed, how much impact did it have on 27 00:01:22,547 --> 00:01:24,387 Speaker 2: qualifying order for the Rice. 28 00:01:24,707 --> 00:01:27,587 Speaker 4: Well, didn't really delay anything. You know. 29 00:01:27,947 --> 00:01:30,067 Speaker 3: Obviously they have all their sets of tires that deal 30 00:01:30,107 --> 00:01:32,187 Speaker 3: with different whether and all that, so they brought out 31 00:01:32,227 --> 00:01:33,267 Speaker 3: some of the wats at first. 32 00:01:33,987 --> 00:01:35,347 Speaker 4: Seems like towards the end they kind of went to 33 00:01:35,347 --> 00:01:35,987 Speaker 4: the intermediate. 34 00:01:36,107 --> 00:01:38,587 Speaker 3: So as far as like any of the time or anything, 35 00:01:38,827 --> 00:01:40,467 Speaker 3: everything's pretty much stayed true to form. 36 00:01:40,547 --> 00:01:42,267 Speaker 4: So no real impact there. 37 00:01:42,627 --> 00:01:45,347 Speaker 2: Okay, so as you say, we kind of always trust 38 00:01:45,547 --> 00:01:48,387 Speaker 2: the way the forecast. But is it bita for Rice 39 00:01:48,507 --> 00:01:49,027 Speaker 2: Die today? 40 00:01:49,947 --> 00:01:50,107 Speaker 4: Yeah. 41 00:01:50,147 --> 00:01:52,227 Speaker 3: I'm out here at the Belasio Fountain Club on the 42 00:01:52,267 --> 00:01:54,427 Speaker 3: Strip looking up at the sky. I can see the 43 00:01:54,667 --> 00:01:56,467 Speaker 3: sun poking through. So that's the first time we seen 44 00:01:56,467 --> 00:01:58,587 Speaker 3: that in two days. So things are kind of getting 45 00:01:58,667 --> 00:02:01,067 Speaker 3: dried up right now. We've seen you know a lot 46 00:02:01,107 --> 00:02:02,547 Speaker 3: of traffic on the strip right now. Obviously in a 47 00:02:02,547 --> 00:02:04,587 Speaker 3: few hours are gonna shut it down for the you know, 48 00:02:04,627 --> 00:02:06,227 Speaker 3: some of the academy stuff to get underway, and then 49 00:02:06,427 --> 00:02:08,387 Speaker 3: of the you know, drives get out there and the 50 00:02:08,987 --> 00:02:11,147 Speaker 3: race start here. But yeah, sun's starting to come out, 51 00:02:11,187 --> 00:02:13,747 Speaker 3: so you know, things are getting dry, and you know, 52 00:02:13,787 --> 00:02:15,267 Speaker 3: like you said, you can't always trust it, but hey, 53 00:02:15,347 --> 00:02:16,027 Speaker 3: cross the fingers. 54 00:02:16,067 --> 00:02:18,427 Speaker 4: I think it's gonna be a pretty good night. 55 00:02:18,467 --> 00:02:20,307 Speaker 2: All right. We'll look forward to that third time. If 56 00:02:20,307 --> 00:02:23,147 Speaker 2: one has been held in Vegas, how popular is the 57 00:02:23,187 --> 00:02:23,787 Speaker 2: event there? 58 00:02:24,827 --> 00:02:25,627 Speaker 4: Yeah, so it's growing. 59 00:02:25,667 --> 00:02:27,707 Speaker 3: The first year there was like nine months of roadwork 60 00:02:27,707 --> 00:02:29,747 Speaker 3: that led up to it, so it kind of angered 61 00:02:29,747 --> 00:02:31,427 Speaker 3: a lot of the locals, right, so they didn't really 62 00:02:31,467 --> 00:02:34,427 Speaker 3: know what that one was. So the second year, those 63 00:02:34,467 --> 00:02:37,267 Speaker 3: a lot less road construction assist the set up time 64 00:02:37,307 --> 00:02:39,747 Speaker 3: and tear down time, and same for this year. So 65 00:02:40,267 --> 00:02:42,027 Speaker 3: they've been that one's been really good at getting out 66 00:02:42,027 --> 00:02:43,667 Speaker 3: in the community. They've been trying to do a lot 67 00:02:43,707 --> 00:02:47,547 Speaker 3: of community benefit things, giving out tickets like teachers and 68 00:02:47,627 --> 00:02:49,307 Speaker 3: other people doing good things in the. 69 00:02:50,827 --> 00:02:51,707 Speaker 4: Charitable world here. 70 00:02:51,787 --> 00:02:53,987 Speaker 3: So they're kind of been putting the planning, the seed 71 00:02:54,027 --> 00:02:55,867 Speaker 3: to make it more of an accepted a bit here 72 00:02:55,907 --> 00:02:57,467 Speaker 3: in Las Vegas, and I think it's kind of paying 73 00:02:57,507 --> 00:02:57,907 Speaker 3: off for them. 74 00:02:58,147 --> 00:03:01,347 Speaker 2: So Orlando Norris is on poul for a third strike. Rice, 75 00:03:02,667 --> 00:03:06,867 Speaker 2: see is he favorate. Can he put the Driver's Champampionship, 76 00:03:06,987 --> 00:03:08,827 Speaker 2: you know, pretty much had to reach this week. Can't 77 00:03:08,827 --> 00:03:10,987 Speaker 2: have a Land of Norris looking qualifying. 78 00:03:12,347 --> 00:03:13,667 Speaker 4: Yeah, you know, obviously he was. 79 00:03:13,947 --> 00:03:15,307 Speaker 3: It was kind of back and forth, and then it 80 00:03:15,387 --> 00:03:17,867 Speaker 3: was the last second where his last lap around he 81 00:03:18,187 --> 00:03:20,667 Speaker 3: took over the poll. So one of the exciting aspects 82 00:03:20,667 --> 00:03:22,827 Speaker 3: about the range is that he kind of put it 83 00:03:22,867 --> 00:03:24,627 Speaker 3: all on the line at the last lap there and 84 00:03:24,627 --> 00:03:26,907 Speaker 3: he came close to hitting the wall. So he took 85 00:03:27,027 --> 00:03:29,147 Speaker 3: that chance and it paid off for him. He's definitely 86 00:03:29,187 --> 00:03:32,507 Speaker 3: favorite here in the sports books. Obviously, I don't think 87 00:03:32,507 --> 00:03:34,467 Speaker 3: he could fully put it away, and so you know, 88 00:03:34,547 --> 00:03:37,347 Speaker 3: everyone behind him crashes, his teammate crashes and all that, 89 00:03:37,427 --> 00:03:39,587 Speaker 3: but I think he can set him stuff up for 90 00:03:39,627 --> 00:03:41,867 Speaker 3: a success with a good run here. 91 00:03:42,187 --> 00:03:46,747 Speaker 2: Tell us about this track and opportunities for posting on 92 00:03:46,787 --> 00:03:52,627 Speaker 2: this track where er bit of energy in the background, 93 00:03:52,627 --> 00:03:56,267 Speaker 2: there was passing the opportunity. 94 00:03:57,027 --> 00:03:59,027 Speaker 3: Yeah, this one tends to have the more the more, 95 00:03:59,187 --> 00:04:02,147 Speaker 3: the most overtakes on the season, So there's tons of 96 00:04:02,227 --> 00:04:04,987 Speaker 3: chances for overtakes, which makes this one of the most 97 00:04:05,027 --> 00:04:07,867 Speaker 3: exciting UH race is on the season. We got them 98 00:04:07,867 --> 00:04:11,547 Speaker 3: one quarter mile along stress on the Las Vegas Strip itself, 99 00:04:11,747 --> 00:04:14,107 Speaker 3: a lot of turns after that, but yeah, this one 100 00:04:14,227 --> 00:04:17,667 Speaker 3: is definitely there's ample opportunity for overtakes here. 101 00:04:17,707 --> 00:04:20,987 Speaker 2: And now Man at KWI Man Liam Lulson, I'm sixth 102 00:04:21,107 --> 00:04:24,307 Speaker 2: in qualifying. What have you mind of his performances over 103 00:04:24,347 --> 00:04:24,787 Speaker 2: the weekend? 104 00:04:25,787 --> 00:04:26,827 Speaker 4: Yeah, you know he could. 105 00:04:26,907 --> 00:04:28,307 Speaker 3: You know, he's kind of an underdog, right, so a 106 00:04:28,347 --> 00:04:30,507 Speaker 3: lot of people in the crowd are have been pretty 107 00:04:30,507 --> 00:04:33,067 Speaker 3: excited about the way he's been performing, especially last night. 108 00:04:33,107 --> 00:04:34,347 Speaker 4: They saw, you know, it's kind of up. 109 00:04:34,307 --> 00:04:37,227 Speaker 3: There on the grid at first when they're in Q three, 110 00:04:37,347 --> 00:04:40,507 Speaker 3: so a lot of people are kind of getting behind him. 111 00:04:40,547 --> 00:04:43,267 Speaker 3: So that's kind of cool to see. So see how 112 00:04:43,307 --> 00:04:45,427 Speaker 3: that kind of carries over into tonight's race. 113 00:04:45,467 --> 00:04:48,267 Speaker 2: All right, And just for clarity, uh, make what time 114 00:04:48,387 --> 00:04:50,427 Speaker 2: local time does the race get under? Why it's five 115 00:04:50,427 --> 00:04:52,387 Speaker 2: o'clock over here in New Zealand, Thomas, That eight o'clock 116 00:04:52,387 --> 00:04:52,987 Speaker 2: a not for you. 117 00:04:53,787 --> 00:04:55,667 Speaker 3: Eight pm, so you know, two hours early in the 118 00:04:55,707 --> 00:04:57,547 Speaker 3: last year, which was ten, So obviously we're gonna we're 119 00:04:57,547 --> 00:04:59,067 Speaker 3: gonna end it before men at our time. 120 00:04:59,347 --> 00:04:59,467 Speaker 1: Uh. 121 00:05:00,227 --> 00:05:02,307 Speaker 3: They kind of work with the people, They took a 122 00:05:02,307 --> 00:05:06,187 Speaker 3: lot of feedback from the past attendees saying, hey, we 123 00:05:06,507 --> 00:05:08,707 Speaker 3: wanted to end a little bit earlier. Obviously they do 124 00:05:08,747 --> 00:05:10,267 Speaker 3: it at night for the lights in Vegas and also 125 00:05:10,307 --> 00:05:13,067 Speaker 3: for the overseas audience on TV. But I think in 126 00:05:13,067 --> 00:05:14,467 Speaker 3: and out ten is gonna be a great way to 127 00:05:14,547 --> 00:05:17,347 Speaker 3: kind of, you know, kick this race off, you know, 128 00:05:17,427 --> 00:05:19,707 Speaker 3: get the finishers there, and then people can get back 129 00:05:19,707 --> 00:05:21,907 Speaker 3: out in the strip and enjoy the casinos, are dining 130 00:05:22,387 --> 00:05:23,587 Speaker 3: in the clubs and all that kind of thing. 131 00:05:23,667 --> 00:05:27,467 Speaker 2: Yeah, plenty to enjoy in Vegas, that's for sure. Hey Mack, 132 00:05:27,507 --> 00:05:29,747 Speaker 2: thanks for your Tom mickak is from the Las Vegas 133 00:05:29,747 --> 00:05:32,987 Speaker 2: Review Journal. The Las Vegas Grand Prix starts at five 134 00:05:32,987 --> 00:05:34,547 Speaker 2: o'clock this afternoon. New Zealand. 135 00:05:34,587 --> 00:05:38,147 Speaker 1: Time for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen 136 00:05:38,267 --> 00:05:41,507 Speaker 1: live to news Talks it'd be weekends from midday, or 137 00:05:41,587 --> 00:05:43,507 Speaker 1: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.