Kubica grabs race and points lead after Hamilton's mistake in Canada

Source: Agencies  |   2008-6-9  |     ONLINE EDITION

NOW that he's got that first Formula One victory in his pocket, Robert Kubica wants more, a lot more.

"The goal was to win a grand prix this season and we have done," the BMW Sauber driver said Sunday after running away with the Canadian Grand Prix. "We are leading the drivers' championship (now), so I hope the team will give me 100 percent support to try and maybe defend it until the last race."

With only seven of 18 races in the books, that's a mighty big order for the 23-year-old Polish driver and his team. He took advantage at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve when defending race champion Lewis Hamilton took both himself and top contender Kimi Raikkonen out in a pit road accident.

Kubica had a ringside seat for the incident that gave him a big boost toward his first win in 29 career starts and the first F1 win for the BMW Sauber team, racing in its 42nd grand prix.

After Kubica and several other leaders made their first stops of the day, he was stopped at a red light at the end of pit road, waiting impatiently to rejoin the action.

Suddenly, Hamilton smashed his Mercedes McLaren into the Ferrari of reigning world champion 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 and managed to pull away."
In the end, Kubica pulled away from everyone, taking full advantage of Hamilton's uncharacteristic mistake. Nick Heidfeld gave the team a 1-2 finish, with Red Bull Racing's David Coulthard third.

As Kubica crossed the finish line 16.4 seconds ahead of his teammate _ so far in front that the runner-up wasn't even in sight on the 2.71-mile track _ BMW racing boss Dr. Mario Theissen radioed, "That's a historic win, Robert. You are leading the championship points."