Well, that was a weird end to the Singapore grand prix. While Alonso and Vettel scrapped over the last few laps, and Webber held on by the threads of his (rapidly disintegrating) tyres, Heikki Kovalainen became a 150mph bonfire.
After a nudge from a Toro Rosso, Heikki’s fuel system went into meltdown, at first spitting flames, then spewing them into the night sky like a rocket. With the blaze in his mirrors, you’d forgive the Finn for pulling over immediately and legging it.
But as he passed the pitlane, he chose not to enter. Too many people down there, he reckoned. If his car exploded, he’d wipe out a whole population of mechanics and engineers and quite possibly some pretty grid girls, too.
While some commentators yelled abuse – “he thinks he can continue, idiot!” – the Finn went searching for a fire marshal, risking a burnt bum in the process. Once off the racing line, he stopped, was passed an extinguisher and took care of the inferno all by himself.
Who says modern F1 drivers don’t have balls?
Thank heavens it didn’t happen a few weeks ago in Germany, where I was in charge of Lotus extinguishment. You can read my blogs here, and get the full story about life on the pit crew in the latest issue of TopGear magazine, on sale now.
Open Car Bar
What do you think?
hamilton_champ commented on this article
Saturday October 9, 2010 at 11:29 pm
wish i saw this on tv so gutted i missed it but did enjoying reading about it and seeing the pictures
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lindasmur13 commented on this article
Monday October 11, 2010 at 11:49 am
nice one Heikki, good to see a driver putting the flames out, and nice to see he is ok after the fire in his car. a good job well done
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Tim Andrews commented on this article
Wednesday October 13, 2010 at 11:42 am
There will be cars on fire at the Top Gear festival. Top Gear is going on a tour. You should check out this link:topgearfestival.ie there are videos of subarus on fire I think they are wrx.
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1/2 man 1/2 amazing commented on this article
Wednesday October 13, 2010 at 5:13 pm
That man’s got boulders between his legs. Respect.
Although, when he kept on going after the pit entry, i thought to myself, Hmmm jeremy mentioned the “burning touring car championship” heikki might have taken that idea too far…
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greezeeweezil commented on this article
Thursday October 14, 2010 at 12:26 am
much respect,heikki,way to keep your cool glad yuor ok
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banijaysRD commented on this article
Saturday October 16, 2010 at 7:26 am
you did a brave thing.. RESPECT.
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Rockstar commented on this article
Saturday October 16, 2010 at 4:45 pm
He handled this perfectly. Very few drivers, if any would risk their own skin save their car and protect their colleagues and fellow drivers as Heikki did.
Amazing!
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Cape commented on this article
Thursday October 21, 2010 at 7:15 pm
I’ll give a credit for Heikki on this one aswell. Many other drivers would have stopped on pits, but as if he knew that the fuel injection did get manifold on it, then I can only say that damn good job. As all we know the nozzles which injects the gas makes it “vaporised” which makes it extremily flameable. By Heikki’s act I can belive that he really saved many ppl in the pit’s of not taking a risk (even a slightest chance of it). But most of the credit goes of risking his own ass by continuing the driving trought the pits and knowing that the vaporized gas can make it to be huge fireball.
As an Fin myself I need to say that I’m proud of it, but still sorry that many persons from finland wouldnt think of this on the same way.
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ShimiC commented on this article
Tuesday November 9, 2010 at 8:47 am
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briandavison commented on this article
Thursday November 11, 2010 at 1:06 am
a bonfire was about the best that car was worthy of
still quick thinking Heiki, & shame on the steward who thought of penalising him for stopping on the track not the pits….!!!!
Anyone still remember the ignited colours of Benetton?
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skin sheep shoes commented on this article
Saturday November 20, 2010 at 6:13 am
UGG & JIMMY CHOO. On thehigh boot if<
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Home Heating commented on this article
Tuesday February 28, 2012 at 5:49 am
Thank you amazing blog, do you have twitter, facebook or something similar where i can follow your blog
Sandro Heckler
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