The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Motor : Historic win for Robert Kubica

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Historic win for Robert Kubica

Hamilton makes a surprising pit road gaffe

MONTREAL: Robert Kubica grabbed his first Formula One victory and the overall points lead on Sunday after Lewis Hamilton made a huge mistake that took him and World champion Kimi Raikkonen out of the Canadian Grand Prix.

Hamilton, who got his first F-1 win here last year, slammed his McLaren into the rear of Raikkonen’s Ferrari in the pits early in the race, taking out both leaders and giving the 23-year-old BMW Sauber driver a clear road to victory in his 29th F-1 start.

Heidfeld finishes second

It was a great day for the BMW Sauber team, winning for the first time in its 42 races as an F-1 team and sweeping the top two spots with Nick Heidfeld finishing second, well ahead of Red Bull Racing’s David Coulthard in third.

As Kubica crossed the finish line 16.4 seconds ahead of his teammate — so far that the runner-up wasn’t even in sight on the 2.71-mile track — a member of his team said on the radio, “That’s a historic win, Robert. You are leading the championship points.”

The Polish driver’s simple answer: “Thanks.”

But he did show his excitement in the cockpit, pumping one fist in the air and then the other. Kubica then hugged everyone within reach after getting out of his car.

But, even after finishing second twice this season, Kubica likely would have still been looking for that first win if not for Hamilton’s surprising pit road gaffe.

Hamilton started on the pole for the second straight year at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve and led until the safety car came out and the leaders pitted on lap 19 of the 70-lap race. That followed Adrian Sutil parking his Force India entry on the grass alongside the track.

Raikkonen, who came into the race trailing Hamilton by three points in the World championship standings, came out ahead of the McLaren driver, along with Kubica, who had been in between Hamilton and Raikkonen. Raikkonen and Kubica stopped side-by-side at a red light at the end of pit road and Hamilton, picking up speed, rammed into Raikkonen’s car, knocking off the rear wing. Nico Rosberg then hit the rear of Hamilton’s car.

Penalty

After the race, officials announced that both Hamilton and Rosberg will be penalised 10 positions on the starting grid at the next event, the French Grand Prix.

Kubica was untouched in the pit road crash and, after everyone else on the lead lap finally made their first pit stops, he found himself in the lead for good on lap 42.

The Pole easily stayed out front as he made his last pit stop on lap 49.

After getting back on track just over four seconds in front of Heidfeld, Kubica steadily pulled away to the end and never had a close call on a very treacherous track that caused problems for numerous drivers throughout the race.

The results:

1. Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 1:36:24.447; 2. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 1:36:40.942; 3. David Coulthard, Red Bull, 1:36:47.799; 4. Timo Glock, Toyota, 1:37:07.074; 5. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:37:08.381; 6. Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 1:37:12.222; 7. Rubens Barrichello, Honda, 1:37:18.044; 8. Sebastian Vettel, Toro Rosso, 1:37:18.567; 9. Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren, 1:37:18.880; 10. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 1:37:22.196; 11. Jenson Button, Honda, 1:37:31.987; 12. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:37:35.676; 13. Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso, 69, 1:36:43.167.

Not classified: Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India, 51; Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, 46; Fernando Alonso, Renault, 44; Nelson Piquet Jr., Renault, 39; Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 19; Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 19; Adrian Sutil, Force India, 13.

Overall standings: Drivers: 1. Robert Kubica, 42 points; 2. Lewis Hamilton & Felipe Massa, 38; 4. Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren, 35; 5. Nick Heidfeld, 28; 6. Heikki Kovalainen, 15; 6. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 15; 8. Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 12; 9. Fernando Alonso, 9; 10. Nico Rosberg, 8.

Constructors: 1. Ferrari, 73 points; 2. BMW Sauber, 70; 3. McLaren, 53; 4. Red Bull, 21; 5. Toyota, 17; 6. Williams, 15; 7. Renault, 9; 8. Honda, 8; 9. Toro Rosso, 7. — AP

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