Lucky egg has no sunny side for Chandhok

HRT Formula One driver Karun Chandhok of India speaks during a news conference ahead of the Turkish F1 Grand Prix at the Istanbul Park racetrack in Istanbul May 27, 2010.

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Karun Chandhok failed to kiss his lucky egg at the Turkish Grand Prix on Saturday and qualified last.

The Indian Formula One rookie, whose new HRT team have yet to come close to scoring a point in six races, explained afterwards that he had been given the charm by friends in Britain.

They had hatched the plan after he was bundled out of the showcase Monaco Grand Prix in the closing laps while on course to be the highest placed driver from the three new teams.

The Lotus of Italian Jarno Trulli skimmed just over his head in that collision.

"My friends in Brackley when I went back said 'You really need a lucky egg, like the Jamaican bobsleigh team from 'Cool Runnings'," the Chennai-born driver told Reuters in the Istanbul Park paddock.

"So they gave me this little rubber egg which has come with me this weekend, but so far it's not worked because we have a straight-line issue and I'm losing over four tenths a lap to (team mate) Bruno (Senna).

"At the moment I think I might have to leave it in Turkey," he added.

"Maybe I should take it in the cockpit, then it would work, but at the moment it's not doing very much."

The 1993 Hollywood movie about Jamaica's 1988 Olympic bobsleigh team was one of Chandhok's childhood favourites. In it, one of the team kisses a lucky egg before each race.

"Maybe I should kiss it. I didn't," said the driver.

(Editing by Kevin Fylan; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)