Thiessen keen for Kubica to race

BMW Sauber team boss Mario Theissen is happy for Robert Kubica to race at Indianapolis this weekend, just seven days after the Polish driver’s horrific crash in Canada.

Kubica escaped with a concussion and a sprained ankle following a spectacular accident at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve last Sunday. The 22-year-old even drove himself back to his hotel the following morning after being released from a Montreal hospital.

Now Theissen will leave it up to the chief medical officer of Formula One’s governing body FIA to make the decision about Kubica’s fitness to drive in this Sunday’s United States Grand Prix.

BMW Motorsport Director Theissen said: “It’s great that he feels ready to race and is not experiencing any after-effects from the accident.

“The Chief Medical Officer will have the final say after Robert has been examined in Indianapolis on Thursday.

“We are prepared in case Robert will not be able to drive. But, of course, we are all hoping that he will line up in the car at the weekend.

“The ideal scenario for me would be for us all to put the accident behind us quickly with a good performance in the race.”

Theissen admitted that last Sunday’s race, in which BMW Sauber’s other driver Nick Heidfeld came second behind Lewis Hamilton, had provoked mixed emotions following Kubica’s crash.

“Seeing the first impact in the replay gave us all a huge shock. I was waiting on the pit wall watching the screens until the rescue work was completed and then went over to the Medical Centre to see Robert.

“Having established that he had not suffered any serious injuries, I returned to the team to tell them the good news and followed the remainder of the race from the pit wall.

“I’m really proud of this team. Nick certainly did not finish second by default. All the incidents in Sunday’s race took place behind him. That second place was his on merit – he was simply faster than one of the McLarens and both Ferraris.”

Theissen now wants to ensure that the podium finish was the first of many successes this season.

“Our form is very much on an upward curve. Six races into the season we have collected two points more than in the whole of 2006.

“We achieved our aim for the season for the first time in Montreal in what was the best overall result so far for the team. But this should not be our only podium finish of the season.”