Coulthard hoping for first lap errors

David Coulthard is hoping to capitalise on any first corner shunt at the European Grand Prix finish on the podium at the Nurburgring.

Coulthard is sure the reconfigured German track will spark an opening lap accident as drivers battle for supremacy.

Coulthard will start the race in fifth spot behind the Williams-BMW duo of Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher who forced the Ferraris of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello onto the second row.

The McLaren racer reckons the fight at the first corner - which now has a twisty loop section that brings the drivers infield - between pole winner Montoya and the two Schumachers, who have clashed at this race before, could give him his opportunity.

"I would be delighted if there is a collision between them - that's all part of racing," said Coulthard.

"There have been incidents this season between Montoya and Schumacher and there was that lack of brotherly love last year.

"Michael knows that the start of the race will give him the best chance of getting the clean part of the track to himself.

"I am expecting some sort of incident. We are not talking carnage but I reckon the safety car will be out.

"The problem is we come into that first corner blind now, it is going to drag us all into it. I could make a mistake there just as much as anyone else.

"At the start of the race you have got to go for it, but if the guy in front brakes just a bit too early you are going to barrel into the back of him."

Coulthard has moved within just one point of the Williams duo after scoring 16 points in the last two races with a victory in Monaco and second place in Canada last time out.

A podium finish tomorrow could give him the outright second spot behind runaway championship leader Schumacher but Coulthard insists he cannot expect to be there at the end of the season.

"It would be a miracle for me but an absolute disaster for Williams if I finished second," insisted Coulthard, still trying to improve the competitiveness of his McLaren. "But they seem on the edge reliability wise so you never know."