Russia's Putin Takes a Spin in Renault's F1 Machine

Just the Facts:

• Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin took a test-drive in a Renault F1 racecar Sunday.
• Putin recently helped secure a Formula 1 race at Sochi, on the Black Sea coast in southern Russia.
• The former KGB agent has an affinity for high-performance equipment.

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — Vladimir Putin, the Russian prime minister who formerly served as a colonel in the Soviet Union's secret police, the KGB, took a Renault Formula 1 racing car for a spin — literally — during the past weekend.

Putin reportedly reached speeds of near 150 mph, driving the car on a wide expanse of pavement. A video of the test-drive shows the bright yellow car sliding out of control, knocking over an orange plastic cone, as Putin attempted to negotiate a right-hand curve.

The test-drive was another in a series of publicity stunts for Putin, who helped build his public image by flying a military fighter jet into war-torn Chechnya in 2000.

Later, he cultivated his image as a car guy by having then President George W. Bush take the wheel of his classic 1956 Volga GAZ-21 sedan.

But this one had a more specific role as a public relations activity. Putin and Formula 1 rights-holder Bernie Ecclestone last month announced an agreement to stage an F1 race at Sochi, the Black Sea coastal resort that, in 2014, will host the Winter Olympic Games.

Putin, who turned 58 last month, was among the more politically savvy who made a smooth transition from the breakup of the Soviet Union and reformation of the Russian Republic in 1991.

He was appointed acting president in 1999 when Boris Yeltsin resigned, was elected to that position in 2000 and re-elected in 2004 and became prime minister by appointment of his successor, Dmitry Medvedev, in 2008.

Inside Line says: According to the Auto Mobile Web site, the event was arranged in conjunction with a visit to Russia by Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault and Nissan. — David Green, Correspondent