Hamilton cruises to redemptive victory
MONTREAL • It may have been the dullest of the 46 Canadian Grand Prix races since 1967, but Lewis Hamilton found it brilliant.
The Formula One driving leader put two miserable weeks behind him as he coasted to victory with Mercedes AMG teammate Nico Rosberg on his tail in what was a twocar race from the outset on the usually treacherous 4.361 kilometre Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Sunday.
There was more drama mid-race when a groundhog just made it on a mad dash across the track just ahead of three speeding cars.
Hamilton posted his fourth victory in seven races and ended Rosberg’s two-race winning run as he held the lead from pole position and was never seriously threatened.
“I was pushing like mad to try and put the pressure on, but he didn’t make any mistakes, so fair play,” said Rosberg. “Second place is still OK.”
Of note was Valtteri Bottas taking third place for Williams, the first time this season a car other than a Mercedes or Ferrari finished in the top three. Kimi Raikkonen, who ceded third spot when he spun out his Ferrari at the hairpin turn, was fourth and his teammate Sebastian Vettel was fifth.
Two weeks ago in Monaco, Hamilton was deprived of victory when his team called him in for a tire change with the race under a safety car, which handed the win to Rosberg and allowed the German to close within 10 points in drivers standings.
There were more mishaps in practice this week, including a spinout and a light crash into a tire barrier when the Mercedes drivers were inexplicably sent onto the track during a rainstorm.
Hamilton was asked more than once if he felt any redemp- tion, and finally offered: “Did I need this? I think so.”
“We had that problem that allowed Nico to win the race, but otherwise, we’ve had good pace,” he added later. “It was relief to continue the trend and for the team to continue to be strong and move forward. That’s probably the most impressive thing.”
It was a 14th consecutive top-three finish for the defending F1 champion, the third longest ever behind Michael Schumacher (19) and Fernando Alonso (15). Martin Truex Jr. slapped the top of his No. 78 Chevrolet, thrust his right fist toward the sky and bounded straight into his girlfriend’s arms.
They hugged, kissed and Truex lifted her into the air.
Truex has stood by Sherry Pollex’s side through her fight with ovarian cancer. Pollex was strong for Truex when his career was in flux following the race-manipulation scandal at Michael Waltrip Racing that cost him a shot at a championship in 2013 and his ride.
Sunday at Pocono Raceway, they were set for an overdue celebration.
Truex led the most laps for the fourth straight race, only this time, he was in front on the one that mattered most, breaking through for his first Sprint Cup victory since 2013.
Truex and Pollex, a couple since 2005, have endured their share of personal and professional heartache over the last 18 months. Pollex was diagnosed with cancer last summer and she had various organs removed, including her ovaries, fallopian tubes and part of her stomach.
Furniture Row owner Barney Visser told Truex he could sit out the rest of the season following Pollex’s diagnosis and still keep his ride for 2015. Truex, though greatly appreciative, declined the offer. Truex found the track therapeutic and kept him focused on something other than her disease.
But he was always a steady support system for Pollex.
“It never gets any better than this,” Truex said. “It takes time to heal things, especially with what Sherry and I went through. This makes you forget all about it. Sherry’s here healthy, and she’s as excited as I am.”
Truex took another hit when his grandmother, Roberta, died Wednesday in the family hometown of Mayetta, N.J.