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Kubica gets first F1 win after Hamilton's mistake
Published on Mon, Jun 09, 2008 at 11:15 in 
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GOOD START: BMW Sauber F1 driver Robert Kubica of Poland celebrates with teammates after winning his first F1 race.
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 on 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 and managed to pull away."
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 their first F1 victory in its 42nd Grand Prix.
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."
The Polish driver's simple answer: "Thanks."
He did show his excitement in the cockpit, pumping one fist in the air and then the other. Then hugging everyone within reach after getting out of his car.
A year ago, Kubica wound up being helicoptered to a hospital for a checkup after a spectacular crash late in the race.
He was shaken up but not injured and Kubica proved on Sunday that memories of that frightening accident have not lingered.
"After that big shunt last year, it's great to win this season and not have to talk about that any more," he said.
Kubica, who also has two second-place finishes this season, could still be looking for that first win if not for Hamilton's surprising pit road gaffe.
Hamilton, coming off a win at Monaco, 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.
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