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Lucas di Grassi Survives Failed Prank in Germany

Another example of a joke gone bad – following the Ron Dennis and Eddie Jordan incident in Great Britain – happened during last weekend's German Grand Prix, within the Virgin Racing team. And from all the people that could have gone through this embarrassing experience, it was exactly rookie driver Lucas di Grassi who was the victim.

After the race at Hockenheim, the team was ready to send the media representatives their drivers' quotes for the Sunday action. However, an unwritten rule within the British team states that the drivers can make proposed changes in writing (to one another), before reporters receive the release by email.

Di Grassi's idea of a prank was to write in his teammate's quote that “it was a difficult start to the race as Lucas overtook me in a brilliant move,” as reported by Motorsport-total.com.

Needless to say, when the German driver looked at the sheet of paper with those words down, he couldn't believe his eyes. “When I read it I was very surprised – I can guarantee I didn't say it,” confirmed Glock afterwards.

The incident was cleared afterwards by Di Grassi, but it seems that neither Glock nor the Virgin staff found the Brazilian's joke too funny. Another element that added to that feeling was that Di Grassi's race lasted for only 50 laps, as he had to retire from the German GP after hitting a high kerb too hard.

The Brazilian drivers finished only 4 of the 11 races he started in the 2010 Formula One season, whereas his more experienced teammate Timo Glock crossed the finish line 5 times.
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