SPORTS SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2014 Grey’s Dr McDreamy’s life in fast lane

HOCKENHEIM: Patrick Dempsey, known to haven’t found those roles that have really cars and racing. My father was a big fan of it, pay his wages are understanding. “They many millions worldwide as “Dr McDreamy” made it worthwhile for me to give up a rac- I used to collect Matchbox cars and on a have been very kind to allow me to go rac- from U.S. network series Grey’s Anatomy, is ing season to go do.” Yesterday night my dad would always bring ing when most shows wouldn’t,” he said. learning new lines. me one home. “I was a huge fan of racing “They understand the importance of it and I But what he means by that depends on Le Mans and then slowly just got deeper and deeper think it helps them as much as it helps me. who he is talking to, and where. The 48- Last month Dempsey competed at the into it,” added Dempsey. “The good thing is, it’s an ensemble so year-old, ranked fifth on the list of highest Le Mans 24 Hours race, finishing fifth in his The real commitment started some six evidently I’m not that important,” he paid actors on US television last year with GTE-AM class after fourth in 2013. He made or seven years ago, when Dempsey did a laughed, accepting that might not be the estimated earnings of $13 million, is prepar- his debut there back in 2009. course and obtained his racing licence case for his many admirers. “They’ve been ing for an 11th season as Dr Derek The owner of Dempsey Racing has taken before attending the Panoz Racing school very gracious about allowing me out and Shepherd in the popular ABC network med- they really work on the scheduling so that ical drama. The first “table-read” of the the stuff we are wanting to do next year script starts on the 22nd, next Tuesday, but they will schedule around me. “I’m sure if I first he has other lines to figure out - racing missed an episode they’d like saving the lines - and his own dreams to realise. money. So I’m sure it would work nicely.” This weekend, the fictional white-coated surgeon from Seattle is getting up to speed Hollywood Hit around Germany’s Hockenheim circuit Profoundly dyslexic, Dempsey said rac- where he competes in the Porsche ing and acting require similar mental disci- Supercup series against professional driv- pline and the ability to compartmentalise. ers. Motor racing, as he told Reuters in the “I process things very quickly and some- German Grand Prix support paddock, is not times I think when one is dyslexic I am pro- just a hobby. It has become as much a part cessing the word too fast and can’t allow it of who he is as acting. “It’s all consuming in to get to my mouth,” he explained. many ways,” he said. “I couldn’t imagine not “It does teach me to stay calm and work racing right now. It really keeps me motivat- on the mental side of things, and that then ed. It’s all I think about on a daily basis. “I translates into the car. The slower you are just truly love it. I love the sport, I love the the faster you are.” Learning a script, like people around the sport, I love the techni- studying a technical manual, has its chal- cal aspect of it, I love the mental exercise of lenges. But the outcome can be all the more it and the constant learning of how to per- satisfying. “You just learn a different way. I fect the setup of the car.”Big screen legends can’t sit down and read from a text book. I Steve McQueen, Paul Newman and James HOCKENHEIM: US actor Patrick Dempsey gets ready prior to the Porsche Cup prac- would never comprehend it. It’s taken me a Garner were all similarly smitten by the rac- tice session ahead of the German Grand Prix at the long time to be OK with that and not be ing bug in their time and Dempsey can race circuit in Hockenheim, southern Germany yestetday. — AFP down on myself,” he said. understand why. part in the gruelling Baja 1,000 off-road at Road Atlanta. With the money from tele- “A lot of actors don’t learn their lines As someone who earns big money play- race, driven at Daytona and will be at vision, and movies like “Enchanted”, “Made until the very last minute. I have to put in far ing fictional characters in fantasy worlds, Indianapolis the week after he meets up of Honor” and “Valentine’s Day”, the screen more time...but when I do I know my lines racing is real and dangerous with chal- with the rest of the Grey’s cast. “I’ve always idol can indulge his love - or obsession - inside and out. So if something is distract- lenges lacking elsewhere. “I think it’s impor- loved racing since I was a kid, I used to ski with speed. “My focus is primarily Le Mans. I ing me to my left, I can incorporate that and tant for me to do both (acting and racing),” race. I grew up in a small town in Maine. want to win Le Mans. One step at a time,” add it to the scene. said the married father of three when asked And ski racing in many ways is very similar he said. “It takes a lot of commitment and a “I think that also applies into racing, as which mattered most to him. “I don’t dislike to road racing,” said the Lewiston-born lot of drive and a lot of things have to go situational awareness. The more you are acting. There’s just certain challenges I’d actor. “I think it brings me back to that part our way but that’s my primary focus, to get aware of what your surroundings are, the like to have in my acting profession and I of my life as a child. I have just always loved back to Le Mans.” Fortunately, those who better off you are in the car.” —Reuters Hamilton on top in German GP practice

HOCKENHEIM: denied who has won the last two races at the south- Mercedes team mate the satis- ern circuit which alternates with the faction of lapping fastest at his home German Nuerburgring, was third fastest in the morn- Grand Prix yesterday. ing - and 0.292 off the pace - and then ninth With track temperatures soaring, Hamilton in the afternoon. set a sizzling pace with a quickest lap of one minute 18.341 seconds in the afternoon ses- Wolff Shines sion. Formula One world championship Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo, the only driver leader Rosberg, who had been fastest before other than the Mercedes pair to win a race this lunch with a best of 1:19.131, was second on season, was fourth and third fastest respec- the timesheets a mere 0.024 off Hamilton’s tively. The Australian’s quadruple champion pace. Dominant Mercedes, seeking their first team mate and last year’s German GP winner German Grand Prix victory as a works team Sebastian Vettel was sixth and eighth. since Argentine tri- Further back, Susie Wolff had a second umphed 60 years ago at the Nuerburgring, chance to make her mark among the men finished one-two in both sessions. after her involvement at Silverstone two Yesterday was the first chance to assess weeks ago was cut short due to an engine HOCKENHEIM: Caterham’s Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi jumps out of his burning car the performance of cars since the governing problem with the Williams. in the second practice session ahead of the German Formula One Grand Prix at the body ruled against a front and rear intercon- The first woman to take part in a grand prix Hockenheimring in Hockenheim, Germany yesterday. — AFP nected suspension (FRIC) system. weekend in 22 years managed 22 laps in the 1:20.542 but was sixth after lunch with team “I was incredibly lucky to get the chance All teams had presented their cars for scru- morning session and ended up an impressive mate taking back his car from with this team this season and of course I tineering without the systems on Thursday 15th fastest, only a fraction slower than the Wolff and ending 10th quickest. have to try to get more opportunities, but as but the times showed no seismic change in Force India of 14th placed Mexican Sergio Wolff’s session was not without stress, and we know that’s not easy. So I need to start the pecking order even if champions Red Bull Perez. Perez had made headlines in Britain she hit trouble on her opening lap out of the fighting for that now.” appeared to have edged slightly closer. when he jokingly told a Spanish television garage when the car suffered a sensor prob- Caterham, under new ownership follow- Mercedes also made a rare pitlane bungle reporter that he would not want to be beaten lem. Whether she gets a chance to progress ing the departure of Malaysian entrepreneur when they had the wrong tyres ready for by a woman driver. His time on Yesterday of further remains uncertain and Wolff was Tony Fernandes, had a torrid day with Hamilton during a race simulation and 1:20.598 compared to Wolff’s 1:20.769. under no illusions. “The next step is obviously Kamui Kobayashi’s car catching fire. The Rosberg had to wait behind him with over- Brazilian , the team’s race reg- to do more and that’s the difficult part, to get Japanese joined marshals in extinguishing heating brakes. Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, ular, was only 11th fastest with a best time of more opportunities,” she said. the flames. — Reuters