The pre-race hype ended in an anti-climax as the four cricketing greats -- Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Steve Waugh and Dennis Lillee -- showed camaraderie to finish as joint winners in the celebrity race that was held as a launch of the second MRF Mondial National Go Karting Championship in Chennai on Sunday.
Over 5,000 hardcore motor enthusiasts and fans of Tendulkar thronged the Danny's Karting Centre, the venue of the championship, and cheered their star, who led the other three foreigners all the way until the last race.
Tendulkar showed finesse in handling the 15 bhp mondial carts; Lara, who was trailing the Indian but drove smoothly, developed some mechanical problem in the seventh lap, while Waugh seemed to be trying hard at the pedal but ended most often hitting the chicanes. Lillee, languishing in fourth place, was able to catch up with Waugh.
Yesterday the cricketers had denied that the winner was already fixed and were unanimous that only the best would win in the eight-lap race.
The cricketers, trying their hands at carting probably for the first time, thrilled the crowd and kept them in good spirits. After the race, the foursome sprayed champagne on each other on the podium.
They then left immediately to catch flights home.
