Raikkonen fined for speeding in pit lane

Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus was fined 400 euros for speeding in the pit lane during the first practice session of the Indian Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida.

According to an FIA statement, the Finn breached Article 30.12 of the FIA F1 sporting regulations by exceeding the pit lane speed limit by 3.4 kmph, the limit of which is 80 kmph.

"The competitor (Lotus F1 team) is fined 400 euros," the statement read.

Defending champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull set the pace by registering a new lap record in the first practice session of the 2013 Indian Grand Prix.

Vettel made a perfect start to his preparations by pipping his teammate Mark Webber by 0.188 seconds.

Vettel, who won the 2011 and 2012 Indian GPs, recorded his best timing of 1:26.683s in just his second lap of the day.

The German, who has a chance to clinch his fourth world title this weekend, edged past team-mate Webber (1:26.871s), Mercedes' Nico Rosberg (1:26.899s) and Lotus's Romain Grosjean (1:26.990s) to emerge as the quickest on a hazy morning.

Image: Kimi Raikkonen

Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters