Kubica gets first F1 win

Lewis Hamilton made a huge mistake Sunday that took him and world champion Kimi Raikkonen out of the Canadian Grand Prix at Montreal and helped Robert Kubica grab his first Formula One victory and the series points lead.

Defending race winner and pole-starter Hamilton slammed his Mercedes 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 Kubica a clear road to victory in his 29th F1 start.

It was a great day for the BMW Sauber team, winning for the first time in its 42 races as an F1 team and sweeping the top two spots with Nick Heidfeld finishing second, well ahead of Red Bull Racing’s David Coulthard in third.

Kubica showed his excitement in the cockpit, pumping one fist in the air and then the other.

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.

The defending race winner 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.

NHRA

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 Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Joliet, Ill.

Kurt Johnson also won his 38th national event, beating Jeg Coughlin in the Pro Stock final with a 6.733-second run at 205.22 mph.

In Top Fuel, Tony Schumacher extended his large points lead, defeating Rod Fuller with the quickest pass of the weekend, a 4.499-second run at 329.83 mph.