Vergne charged from the back of the grid to finished fifth with title rival Sam Bird of Britain only ninth, leaving him in an unassailable 31-point lead ahead of the second race of the weekend double-header in the Big Apple.
It was a remarkable performance by Vergne after both he and Techeetah teammate Andre Lotterer were penalized for turning up their power too early in qualification.
He is the fourth different champion in the four years of the Formula E championship, but the first to wrap up the title with a round still remaining, such has been the close nature of the competition and racing in the emerging supercharged series.
After crossing the line, Vergne dedicated his victory to his old friend and fellow Frenchman Jules Bianchi, who died after crashing at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.
‘This is for Jules,” he said in an emotional tribute.
Brazil’s di Grassi led a one-two for Audi Sport ahead of German teammate Daniel Abt, continuing his strong finish to the season after initial poor results undermined his title defense.
He was winning his second race in succession after taking the checkered flag in Zurich and his eighth career victory in Formula E.
But all eyes were on the championship showdown between Vergne and DS Racing’s Bird, who had won both races in New York last season.
There was to be no repeat, Bird, who qualified only 14th, unable to match the speed of the Techeetah cars, with Vergne overtaking him early in the 45-lap race, which was eventually shortened after a safety car.
“It’s incredible, it was a great race, but starting from last was very stressful,” said Vergne.
A disappointed Bird, who will now be under pressure from di Grassi for second place in the championship in the final race Sunday, said his car could simply not match the energy-saving efficiency of his rivals, but congratulated Vergne.
“If I have to lift more than other people there’s not much more I can do,” he admitted.
Another former champion, Sebastien Buemi, completed the podium for Renault e-Dams after starting from pole, but quickly lost position to his Audi rivals.
Sunday’s race will see a battle for the constructors’ title between Techeetah and Audi Sport.
With fifth for Vergne and seventh for Lotterer, Audi Sport after its one-two has closed to just five points ahead of the finale to the 2017/18 season.
Source : Nbcnewyork
