Di Grassi takes FE points lead with victory

Lucas di Grassi moved into the Formula E points lead with victory in Long Beach, as title rival Sebastien Buemi crashed.

Abt Audi Sport driver di Grassi passed Briton Sam Bird just after one-quarter distance, and was left alone out in front when his DS Virgin Racing rival went off mid-race.

Di Grassi had to manage a three-lap sprint at the end when Nelson Piquet Jr crashed and brought out the safety car, but held off Venturi’s Stephane Sarrazin with ease to complete the perfect response to his exclusion from the previous race in Mexico City.

“It was easy for me to throw in the towel and say the battle was over,” said di Grassi, who has a one-point advantage over Buemi heading into the European leg of the season. “That’s not the way I work.”

Buemi started seventh but took sixth with a fine move on di Grassi’s team-mate Daniel Abt.

But when he tried to repeat the move on Robin Frijns he misjudged it and climbed over the rear of the Andretti Autosport car, damaging both vehicles and ruining both drivers’ races.

A contrite Buemi admitted: “I should have waited. There was no need to pass him in a tricky place like that.”