UPDATE: All video of the Kubica crash on YouTube has been removed at the request of F1. Click here to watch the crash recreated in 3D using CGI.
By all accounts, yesterday's Canadian Grand Prix was one of the most entertaining races in recent memory. Unfortunately for Lewis Hamilton, who took his first Formula One victory, his achievements driving for McLaren were overshadowed by the considerable amount of contact that took place between drivers and solid objects.
The most horrific crash could have easily taken the life of BMW driver Robert Kubica, who was coming into the hairpin at upwards of 180 MPH when he lost steering control and slammed, head-on, into one of the barriers. From there, he was punted across the track, missing a few of his competitors, hitting the adjacent wall and finally coming to rest on his side. Reports say that he came away with only a broken leg, although BMW had't confirmed that as of this writing, which judging by the video footage after the jump, speaks volumes about how far safety equipment has come in motorsport.
You can check out a video of the crash after the break, and click here for a brief rundown of yesterday's event.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mr. Oak @ Jun 11th 2007 9:42AM
That was kind of scary. Get well soon, and say your Hail Marys.
Mr. Oak @ Jun 11th 2007 9:51AM
Not a very accurate account of that event. Ralph Schumacher took away Kubica line and forced him onto the (wet from overnight rain) grass. Then everything that you said happened.
Not blaming Ralph, it was a racing accident.
Mr Gazon @ Jun 11th 2007 11:21AM
I'm not an expert on how long it takes for grass to dry but I can guarantee you that the grass in my backyard a few kilometres aware from the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve was dry hours before the race started.
Olock @ Jun 11th 2007 1:09PM
Your account isn't entirely accurate either, considering that was Jarno Trulli's Toyota, rather than Ralf (not Ralph) Schumacher's.
dmw @ Jun 11th 2007 9:56AM
He only had a concussion and a sprained ankle. So like an afternoon of ultimate frisbee for me.
Tony Belding @ Jun 11th 2007 9:58AM
I was fortunate enough to catch the race on TV, it was a good one. I think we need to see more of this instead of all NASCAR all the time. I'd also love to see F1 racing broadcast in high definition, I wonder when it will happen?
km519 @ Jun 11th 2007 12:39PM
The Grand Prix was an HDTV broadcast on Canada's TSN network. Suprisingly, Formula 1 Administration -- Bernie Ecclestone's group -- only sometimes feeds the race using their own production facilities and HDTV cameras. F1 Administration sometimes relies on local broadcasters feeds as the world feed; and frankly the quality of local broadcaster feeds is uneven at best.
mforty @ Jun 11th 2007 10:13AM
New reports (as of yesterday) say he doesn't actually have a broken leg...
Mr. Oak @ Jun 11th 2007 10:15AM
I think we need to see more of this instead of all NASCAR all the time.
-------------------------------------------------
I agree it was a good show, not a good race though. How did NASCAR get pulled into this? NASCAR attracts TV sponsors, F1 doesn't have the same drawing power here.
Lewis H. and Nick Heidfeld were brilliant.
Aside from Kubica's shunt, Alonso making an ass of himself, looking very amateurish, and two fools getting black flagged for blowing the red light at pit out, it was pretty ho-hum.
BTW: for those who watched the race yesterday, you witnessed the benning of the end of Alonso.
Richard @ Jun 11th 2007 10:26AM
Well,
Kubica hit the back of Trulli, not Ralph. One cannot discern from the video - at least any I have seen - whether Trulli moved over on Kubica or whether Robert (Kubica) simply ran out of room trying a late-braking maneuver to take Trulli on the outside before the hairpin.
Either way, Kubica was launched into the air after crossing the kerbing - hard to see that grass, wet or otherwise, had anything to do with this - and the result is plain to see.
Last report I read is that he is to be released from hospital today and BMW will decide on Thursday if he is fit to race in Indy this weekend.
Aaron @ Jun 11th 2007 10:31AM
Not a very accurate account of what happened at all.
While approaching the hairpin, Robert Kubica made contact with the right rear tire of Jarno Trulli's Toyota. Kubica was well over a 100 yards away from even reaching the braking zone.
And as others have mentioned, he did not suffer a broken leg, just a sprained ankle and slight concussion. Just a testament to well these cars are engineered.
Richard @ Jun 11th 2007 10:32AM
I take it back!
I don't think he even hit Trulli.
I think he simply ran out of room and was launched by the kerb.
Peter @ Jun 11th 2007 1:19PM
Of course he hit him, a curb wouldn't launch a car like that. A front wheel hitting a rear wheel does. Look closely at 0:32...
Billy @ Jun 11th 2007 10:57AM
It was a fabulous race. The announcers were laughing as they were reporting Kimi and Alonso's trying to catch up to Takuma Sato!
Solo Racer @ Jun 11th 2007 10:59AM
Grass or no grass, once launched there was no way to slow down. Reminded me of the crash that killed Donnie Moore at Cal Speedway.
"BTW: for those who watched the race yesterday, you witnessed the benning of the end of Alonso."
Based on what? A poor drive in one race? His name isn't Ralf. Props to Sato for setting up and getting the pass when Alonso bobbled the corner. I can't imagine he thought Taku was a lap down.
J @ Jun 11th 2007 11:21AM
Agree that it was pretty lame that whoever provides the feed doesn't use HD equipment.
Quattrofan @ Jun 11th 2007 11:25AM
Holy &%@, this was one bad crash. I wonder if Kubica will be the same afterwards - rookie after a first big bad spill. I hope he will be back in the car within few days.
Brad @ Jun 11th 2007 12:07PM
I was watching the race yesterday. Kubica's wreck kinda scared me a little because when his car finally came to rest he was not moving. I was at Indy the year Ralf wrecked right in front of me and it reminded me of that.
I wouldn't say that just because Sato passed Alonso that Alonso's career is over. He just had a bad day.
tpp @ Jun 11th 2007 12:17PM
re: Alonso
I don't think people are referring to Sato overtaking him as examples of completely amateurish drive last Sunday. He obviously must've had some sort of a mechanical problem for Sato to overtake him that easily.
However, when you go wide onto the grass four time in the SAME CORNER during the race, that's just not world championship caliber driving.
Solo Racer @ Jun 11th 2007 1:30PM
He drove like he was sick, but apparently not.
As for the closed pit violation, turns out he would have run out of fuel if they hadn't serviced the car. It's kind of a dumb rule and just where were Alonso and Rosberg when the track went yellow?
A lot of folks complain about Speed's team, but Hobbs, Matchet and Windsor all have F1 experience. And Murray Walker is rather famous for his gaffs in the later years.