July 1, 2006

The Team McLaren Mercedes drivers Kimi Räikkönen and Juan Pablo Montoya retired from the US Grand Prix in the second corner following a collision. In the mayhem immediately after the start the cars of both Kimi and Juan Pablo touched and they were forced to retire. The race was won by Michael Schumacher (Ferrari). Team McLaren Mercedes is third in the constructors' championship with 65 points. Kimi is fourth in the drivers' rankings on 39, Juan Pablo is sixth on 26 points. Fernando Alonso leads the contest on 88 points.

The start: Kimi started the race from ninth on the grid and Juan Pablo 11th. The team had planned a one stop strategy for both cars. In the multiple accident at the second corner Juan Pablo and Kimi touched and they both had to retire.

The race: Following this accident which also involved Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber) and Jenson Button (Honda), and after another incident with four cars, the Safety Car was deployed for six laps. Michael Schumacher won the 73-lap-race. Nine cars were classified.

Comments

Kimi Räikkönen: "I made a really good start and was quick off the line. However things got messy at the second corner and Juan Pablo hit me from behind and that was the end of the race. There is no point in blaming anyone as these sort of things happen in racing and especially when you are not at the front. As a team we will now get over the disappointment of today's result and focus on the next race."

Juan Pablo Montoya: "When you start so far back you have to race hard to make up places. Unfortunately it was pretty tight at the start and as everybody braked for the second corner I was being squeezed by one of the Hondas and regrettably I hit Kimi. I'm obviously really upset for the team who have worked so hard the whole weekend as having both cars out on the opening lap is disastrous."

Team Principal Ron Dennis: "We have looked at our data and the footage from various cameras and it's clear that as is often the case with accidents several things happened in close sequence. Heidfeld heavily squeezed Button, who squeezed Juan Pablo. Prior to those cars touching Juan Pablo ran into the back of Kimi who was making every effort to keep out of trouble. Inevitably the team feels intense frustration and disappointment when its cars are eliminated as a result of touching each other. However this was a racing incident and should be treated as such."

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: "To lose both cars already at the second corner is obviously a nightmare. Sorry to all the spectators and team members, we all would have loved to contribute to a good race, as we had planned only one pit stop for each driver. We will be testing next week in Jerez in Spain to further increase our performance after the three last races with podium finishes and to get focused for the French Grand Prix.”