Kubica speaks about his accident
Robert Kubica on Thursday commented on last Sunday's dramtic accident in Montreal and declared himself feeling "100 percent ok" and eager to race this Sunday.Robert, any after effects since the accident? Robert Kubica: Not really. I had a bit of pain...
Robert Kubica on Thursday commented on last Sunday's dramtic accident in Montreal and declared himself feeling "100 percent ok" and eager to race this Sunday.
Robert, any after effects since the accident? Robert Kubica: Not really. I had a bit of pain in my ankle on the first day but now it’s 100 percent OK, no headache, nothing. Nearly like brand new! I was really lucky and very positive for myself, very important to come back as soon as possible. Of course, we have to wait for the decision of the FIA doctors and of Indy, here at the Grand Prix, to give me the OK, but I feel like nothing has happened.
What is the procedure now, when are you going to have a medical examination? RK: Well, the doctors will probably check me. I already have reports from the Montreal doctor, Doctor Denis, who said that everything looks OK. They were quite surprised that after everything that had happened, nothing happened to me. We have to wait, we have to see. I feel 100 percent good, but you always have to wait for the decision and then probably, hopefully I will be back in the car, with a better performance than in Canada.
Have you seen the accident on TV? RK: Well, yes. I also saw it live when I was there! But Scott also had a good position to see it. I saw that on some pictures. But I saw it because as Jarno came to the hospital, it was also important to understand what happened, and why suddenly I had no control of the car. Apparently it was the front wing – when we touched – which went under the car and lifted my car up and I couldn’t steer any more, which is why I went off.
So obviously you’re looking forward to driving this weekend. RK: I really feel as if nothing has happened. I want to be back in the car and I’m looking forward to it. Canada was very unlucky for me, starting from Friday: problems with a fuel leak, and then performance-wise it was not good. I was looking forward very much to Canada because last year I was very competitive there, Nick was competitive, but apparently we faced some problems with the car and it doesn’t pay off, so let’s hope I’m in good shape, that the car will be in good shape and the doctors will give me the OK to race here and we will be competitive.
Can you tell us what you remember of it, yourself as you went through the accident, what was going through your mind and exactly what you can remember of that? RK: Well, I can't remember a lot, of course. What I remember is what you see. We were racing with Jarno, the corner was going to the left. I showed up before the corner on the left-hand side of Jarno. Then as the corner was a left-hander, I thought Jarno would go there and I went on the right-hand side, but apparently Jarno thought I would be on the left one and he went a bit wider. I was not expecting it, we touched, the front wing went under the car and I had no more control. When I was on the outside of the track on the grass, suddenly I took something which lifted up my car pretty much and I hit the wall. When I stop, I stop. You know, nothing more. It shows, that - reviewing images - it looks how shocked I was, and in reality I was because when I stopped, I realized I was not in bad shape. That was very important for me. I have already been involved in one accident a few years ago. It was in a road car and I knew straight away that something was really bad. But this time when I stopped and I was checking myself, moving and I wanted to see what was going on. I felt a bit of ankle pain and that was all. So it was very important. It shows that the FIA’s push for safety, to the teams and that the crash tests - everything - has shown a big improvement. And also big thanks to the FIA because in the end they are pushing for safety, and probably ten years ago we would not be speaking here, and this time I'm like nothing has happened.
Robert, you were still conscious at the end of the accident, how difficult was it to get you out of the cockpit?
RK: Well, apparently it was not difficult but the problem was for me that there was some water or oil coming out from the car and I felt a lot of burning. As soon as the marshals were slowly pulling me out of the car, I felt burning on my shoulder because there was oil probably on the ground and it was really hot. But everything went smoothly, and thanks also to the rescue team and to everybody who was involved in my accident, from the doctors, from the rescue team, from the marshals - they have done a great job.
Did ypu actually get the chance to get on the radio and talk to your crew or was that system destroyed in the crash? RK: Well, looking at the pictures I think that the radio was not there anymore. I don’t know what has been left in the car. I haven’t seen it. I mean I’ve seen the pictures, this is a bit of a strange question I think. How do you want to talk? There was nothing left.
Is there a standard procedure of getting in contact with your team and saying: “I’m ok”? RK: Of course. There is but after such a crash you don’t think to say something to the team, you think about yourself. As Jarno said it was important to not move. I could have gone out of the car by myself because I realised I was ok, but of course I could have been under shock and then the danger can be much more. So that’s why marshals and the rescue crew and doctors said “Stay calm, we will pull you away from the car slowly.” That’s what is most important, keeping everything under control.
And how long honestly did it take until you thought “will I be able to race in Indy?” RK: I realised very quickly that I’m quite ok, of course you never know how you will be the day after… your headache… your neck… Everybody was saying the morning after would be the worst. The first thing was I woke up and then on Monday morning I stood up and tried to move and I had no pain at all. So I said: “Whoah, that’s good.” Of course I want to come back straight away but I know first of all it’s about safety and it’s your own body and mind that you have to listen to. Of course if I am not 100% I would say by myself I don’t want to race because in the end it’s not only me on the track but other drivers, marshals and everybody. But I feel very good so we have to wait for the FIA decision and then we will see.
Robert, any after effects since the accident? Robert Kubica: Not really. I had a bit of pain in my ankle on the first day but now it’s 100 percent OK, no headache, nothing. Nearly like brand new! I was really lucky and very positive for myself, very important to come back as soon as possible. Of course, we have to wait for the decision of the FIA doctors and of Indy, here at the Grand Prix, to give me the OK, but I feel like nothing has happened.
What is the procedure now, when are you going to have a medical examination? RK: Well, the doctors will probably check me. I already have reports from the Montreal doctor, Doctor Denis, who said that everything looks OK. They were quite surprised that after everything that had happened, nothing happened to me. We have to wait, we have to see. I feel 100 percent good, but you always have to wait for the decision and then probably, hopefully I will be back in the car, with a better performance than in Canada.
Have you seen the accident on TV? RK: Well, yes. I also saw it live when I was there! But Scott also had a good position to see it. I saw that on some pictures. But I saw it because as Jarno came to the hospital, it was also important to understand what happened, and why suddenly I had no control of the car. Apparently it was the front wing – when we touched – which went under the car and lifted my car up and I couldn’t steer any more, which is why I went off.
So obviously you’re looking forward to driving this weekend. RK: I really feel as if nothing has happened. I want to be back in the car and I’m looking forward to it. Canada was very unlucky for me, starting from Friday: problems with a fuel leak, and then performance-wise it was not good. I was looking forward very much to Canada because last year I was very competitive there, Nick was competitive, but apparently we faced some problems with the car and it doesn’t pay off, so let’s hope I’m in good shape, that the car will be in good shape and the doctors will give me the OK to race here and we will be competitive.
Can you tell us what you remember of it, yourself as you went through the accident, what was going through your mind and exactly what you can remember of that? RK: Well, I can't remember a lot, of course. What I remember is what you see. We were racing with Jarno, the corner was going to the left. I showed up before the corner on the left-hand side of Jarno. Then as the corner was a left-hander, I thought Jarno would go there and I went on the right-hand side, but apparently Jarno thought I would be on the left one and he went a bit wider. I was not expecting it, we touched, the front wing went under the car and I had no more control. When I was on the outside of the track on the grass, suddenly I took something which lifted up my car pretty much and I hit the wall. When I stop, I stop. You know, nothing more. It shows, that - reviewing images - it looks how shocked I was, and in reality I was because when I stopped, I realized I was not in bad shape. That was very important for me. I have already been involved in one accident a few years ago. It was in a road car and I knew straight away that something was really bad. But this time when I stopped and I was checking myself, moving and I wanted to see what was going on. I felt a bit of ankle pain and that was all. So it was very important. It shows that the FIA’s push for safety, to the teams and that the crash tests - everything - has shown a big improvement. And also big thanks to the FIA because in the end they are pushing for safety, and probably ten years ago we would not be speaking here, and this time I'm like nothing has happened.
Robert, you were still conscious at the end of the accident, how difficult was it to get you out of the cockpit?
RK: Well, apparently it was not difficult but the problem was for me that there was some water or oil coming out from the car and I felt a lot of burning. As soon as the marshals were slowly pulling me out of the car, I felt burning on my shoulder because there was oil probably on the ground and it was really hot. But everything went smoothly, and thanks also to the rescue team and to everybody who was involved in my accident, from the doctors, from the rescue team, from the marshals - they have done a great job.
Did ypu actually get the chance to get on the radio and talk to your crew or was that system destroyed in the crash? RK: Well, looking at the pictures I think that the radio was not there anymore. I don’t know what has been left in the car. I haven’t seen it. I mean I’ve seen the pictures, this is a bit of a strange question I think. How do you want to talk? There was nothing left.
Is there a standard procedure of getting in contact with your team and saying: “I’m ok”? RK: Of course. There is but after such a crash you don’t think to say something to the team, you think about yourself. As Jarno said it was important to not move. I could have gone out of the car by myself because I realised I was ok, but of course I could have been under shock and then the danger can be much more. So that’s why marshals and the rescue crew and doctors said “Stay calm, we will pull you away from the car slowly.” That’s what is most important, keeping everything under control.
And how long honestly did it take until you thought “will I be able to race in Indy?” RK: I realised very quickly that I’m quite ok, of course you never know how you will be the day after… your headache… your neck… Everybody was saying the morning after would be the worst. The first thing was I woke up and then on Monday morning I stood up and tried to move and I had no pain at all. So I said: “Whoah, that’s good.” Of course I want to come back straight away but I know first of all it’s about safety and it’s your own body and mind that you have to listen to. Of course if I am not 100% I would say by myself I don’t want to race because in the end it’s not only me on the track but other drivers, marshals and everybody. But I feel very good so we have to wait for the FIA decision and then we will see.