• Japanese Grand Prix

Petrov handed Korea grid penalty

ESPNF1 Staff
October 10, 2010 « Kobayashi happy to entertain home fans | »
Vitaly Petrov crashed out on the opening lap © Getty Images
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Vitaly Petrovhas been slapped with a five place grid penalty for the Korean Grand Prix for his part in the accident at the start of the Japanese Grand Prix.

The Renault driver crashed into Nico Hulkenberg's Williams shortly after the lights went out, sending both cars into retirement.

"I made a good start and managed to overtake Massa," said Petrov. "I was then going passed Hulkenberg with Heidfeld on my right when he started to move left and so I also had to move left to avoid him. Unfortunately I hit the side of Hulkenberg's car and this is why I crashed."

Things went from bad to worse for Renault as the fast-starting Robert Kubica was forced to retire on the second lap after the right rear wheel fell off his Renault.

"We made a good start and managed to gain one position up to P2, but then in the second lap behind the safety car I was warming up the tyres and I nearly lost the car," said Kubica. "I thought to begin with it was a problem with the driveshaft, but apparently it was the wheel. I don't know if there was a technical problem but it became difficult to follow the safety car so I moved to the side of the track and then I lost the wheel."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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