Kubica not haunted by Montreal crash
Polish F1 driver says his memorable moment at Gilles Villeneuve is part of the game
Robert Kubica walked away from a potentially fatal accident at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal last year without a scratch.
This Sunday, he's got a strong chance to come away with his first career Formula One victory.
The BMW Sauber driver's car was catapulted into a concrete wall before somersaulting across the track in a shower of debris to come to a rest with only the cockpit — and the Polish driver — left intact.
Kubica checked out of the hospital the next day with a slight concussion and a sprained ankle.
Now, he is approaching his return to Montreal with the same composure that has made him a championship hopeful this year.
"I don't have to cope [with the mental part] because it's already a year ago and since then I have been driving a Formula One car without thinking about it," the 23-year-old said.
"In Formula One, and motorsport, the risks are high, but I don't have any negative feelings about Canada."
There won't be any psychological complications leading into the chicane at the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit this year, where his car, travelling at 240 km/h, slammed into the concrete wall after going over the top of Jarno Trulli's Toyota.
"I think your mental state is important in every sport, but in Formula One it is particularly important," said Kubica, who is coming off a second-place finish at Monaco, where his mental strength helped him avoid an accident on the rain-soaked street circuit.
"Even in dry conditions, Monaco is very demanding mentally, but this time it was even more difficult. We had to maintain concentration for two hours while driving between the barriers at the limit in ever-changing conditions."
The season-opening Australian Grand Prix aside, Kubica has been F1's most consistent driver this season.
He hasn't finished outside the top four since Sepang and is fourth in the overall standings with 32 points, trailing McLaren's Lewis Hamilton by six points. The Ferraris of defending world champion Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa are sandwiched between them.