Indian GP: Williams fined for Maldonado wheel mishap

Greater Noida: Pastor Maldonado’s wheel mishap in practice for Sunday’s Indian Grand Prix has cost the Williams team its second 60,000-Euro ($ 82,800) fine in as many races.

Maldonado failed to finish the second practice session Friday after he lost a front right wheel nut and eventually punctured his tire. An examination of the wheel by race stewards found the fastener had been cross-threaded. [caption id=“attachment_1195569” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Reuters[/caption] Williams was fined the same amount at Suzuka earlier this month after another fastener problem resulted in a wheel coming off Maldonado’s car during the first practice for the Japanese GP. The stewards said; “Whilst the stewards accept that improvements to the wheel retaining system had been implemented the team need to ensure that both the wheel and its fastener are fully retained on the car.” AP