MONTREAL — It was just a routine pit stop until Robert Kubica got to the end of pit road.
The BMW Sauber driver was stopped at a red light, waiting impatiently after his first stop of the day to rejoin the action Sunday in the Canadian Grand Prix, when the action suddenly took place right next to him.
Defending race champion Lewis Hamilton smashed his Mercedes McLaren into the Ferrari of reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen, sitting alongside Kubica at the stoplight.
“Kimi stopped beside me, and then I heard the noise when Hamilton crashed into his car,” Kubica said. “I have to be grateful to Lewis as he chose Kimi and not myself. I just kept concentrating on waiting for the green light.”
In the end, the 23-year-old Polish driver pulled away from everyone, taking advantage of Hamilton’s uncharacteristic mistake to grab his first Formula One win in his 29th start. Kubica also moved into the series points lead, as well as giving BMW Sauber its first F1 victory in its 42nd Grand Prix race.
It appeared Hamilton never hit the brakes in the incident in the pits, picking up speed and ramming into Raikkonen’s car, knocking off the rear wing. Nico Rosberg then hit the rear of Hamilton’s car.
Raikkonen was disgusted and not very forgiving.
“My race was ruined by Hamilton’s mistake,” the Finn said. “Obviously, anyone can make mistakes, as I did two weeks ago in Monaco. But it’s one thing to make a mistake at 200 per hour, but another to hit a car stopped at a red light.”
Pedregon wins funny car
JOLIET, Ill. — Funny car star Tony Pedregon bounced back from a fire during qualifying to win for the second time this season and the 38th time in his career, beating Scott Kalitta in the Route 66 NHRA Nationals.
Kurt Johnson also won his 38th national event, beating Jeg Coughlin in the pro stock final. Tony Schumacher extended his points lead in top fuel by defeating Rod Fuller, and Chris Rivas raced to his first pro stock motorcycle win.
The Associated Press
