Spanish Grand Prix Fire: Williams' Garage Erupts After Pastor Maldonado's Win (VIDEO)

People observe the smoke covering Williams's team garage destroyed by the fire at the end of the Spanish Grand Prix at the Montmelo racetrack near Barcelona, Sunday, May 13, 2012.

BARCELONA, Spain -- Thirty-one people were injured and seven hospitalized after a fire erupted inside Formula One team Williams' garage after team driver Pastor Maldonado won the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday.

Governing body FIA said 31 people were treated by Catalunya Circuit medical staff, with seven of those flown out to a variety of hospitals to receive treatment.

Catalonia's regional government said in a statement that one of the persons was airlifted to Barcelona hospital with serious burn wounds, while the rest were being treated locally for smoke inhalation.

Williams confirmed a fuel leak caused the problem, with four of its staff treated for injuries. Three of those remained in hospital.

F1 team Caterham said in a statement that four team employees were among those taken to the Catalunya Circuit medical center to be examined, one with a minor hand injury and three with respiratory issues.

The fire erupted soon after Maldonado and the team had taken the traditional victory photo in front of the team garage with members of all teams close by rushing to help contain the blaze.

"The FIA is collaborating closely with the Spanish authorities investigating this incident," FIA said.

Williams team principle Frank Williams, who is a paraplegic, was rushed from his wheelchair as he was giving a celebratory speech for a first F1 victory in eight years that coincided with the longtime team principal's 70th birthday celebrations.

A black, acrid haze came flowing out of the British team's garage, filling the paddock and pit lane.

Mechanics and circuit firefighters were quickly on the scene to put out the fire with an ambulance on the scene treating one person for what appeared to be smoke inhalation.

Williams driver Bruno Senna's car was torched by the blaze, while Maldonado's car was alongside fellow podium finishers cars away from the Williams garage.

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Comments

[DonVito]

12:26 PM on 05/15/2012

We are glad it was not Ferrari.
We had nothing to do with this.

Don Vito

[polfpilf]

01:01 PM on 05/14/2012

This is one of the best seasons ever. The number of cars within a half sec of each other is amazing. I hope it stays this way.

[Twisted Words]

05:53 PM on 05/14/2012

I agree with the caveat that there has not many on track passes for the lead - mostly in the pits. The rest are because of DRS, which I think is a unfair advantage to the trailing car. The racing would really be outstanding if they took the wings off the cars.

[polfpilf]

01:08 PM on 05/16/2012

No wings would be interesting, I wonder how much it would slow it down though, the excitement level would definately increase. For what its worth I would like to see fuel become a factor again. Sometimes the regs get carried away. I know it would never happen but can you imagine just 2 rules, No1 - your car has to fit in this box, No 2- your car must weigh this much, give or take 200lbs. We would see some extreme high tech and insane speed.

[jymfrancais]

12:00 PM on 05/14/2012

Did they have a Volt in there?....kiiiding

[ethiopia1a]

10:58 AM on 05/14/2012

Too coincidental. I'm thinking someone didn't like team Williams winning.

[panichead]

10:43 AM on 05/14/2012

This has nothing to do about the race per see, but I noticed for a country that is so strapped financially there seemed to be a pretty good crowd. Is the reason because that the rich in that country are still pretty well off while the poor are the ones hurting? Enlighten me someone.

[judgeholden79]

10:58 AM on 05/14/2012

It's not like Spain is a 3rd world country. Out of a population of about 50 million, it shouldn't be hard to find a 150,000 or so people who can shell out 50-200 euros to attend the race--- particularly when a Spanish hero (Alonso) is driving. You should have seen the Spanish GP before Alonso, no one showed up.

[soundog]

11:21 AM on 05/14/2012

Having had lived in Spain for several years, they know how to have a good social life w/o spending a lot. Most men live at home til their late thirties, the cafes and clubs are inexpensive, they have learned to drive motorcycles or bikes to save petro. They lead a very environmental life which saves the families money. They have a very nice laid back lifestyle.

[ElPasoGirl5]

09:54 AM on 05/14/2012

....wow.

[gal416]

09:52 AM on 05/14/2012

I got to watch that race before I went to church yesterday. Pastor is my new favorite F1 driver. lol
Guess who was the last Williams driver to win an F1 race? J. P. Montoya.

[tulsey]

08:58 AM on 05/14/2012

Another reason to go electric.

[CletusVanDamme]

10:14 AM on 05/14/2012

The William's car is a hybrid. They use the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS)

[west lothian questioner]

11:32 AM on 05/14/2012

A report I read elsewhere suggested that the KERS unit in one of the cars was the root of the fire.
All the F1 teams are free to use KERS and I believe all of them currently doso.

[bmwracer]

02:59 PM on 05/14/2012

I think all F1 cars are using KERS, huh?

[Seafarer61]

08:48 AM on 05/14/2012

One of the more entertaining races (and seasons to date). I was hoping for a closer finish between the two but in F1, when tires go...they go quickly. Alonso is a master at extracting everything he can out of that less than stellar Ferrari this year.

F1 rules.

[dsrhuff]

10:58 AM on 05/14/2012

This was the best race I've seen in years.

Someone else won (was nice when Rossberg won too)
Alonzo didn't win in his home country, that always makes me happy.
Williams won! It's great to see them in the winner's circle after such a long drought.

[Twisted Words]

06:01 PM on 05/14/2012

I want to see a spec tire that does not marble as much - the track is confined to one lane by lap 3.

[tobo]

08:24 AM on 05/14/2012

Brilliant victory Pastor and congratulations to the whole Williams F1 team for all the good work. After years of misery, at long last, finally another victory. Hopefully this proves not to be a fluke, and the team moves forward from this day on. You truly deserve it to compete against McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull, Sir Frank. Somewhere at the back of the grid is not the right place for a team with a rich history like Williams'.

I've been a Williams fan since the days of Nigel Mansell, so it hurt to see the team losing contact with the top the last years.

[PeterVanKan]

06:58 AM on 05/14/2012

The whole F1 scene is one of people totally totally totally alienated from (their connection with) the earth. It's insane, sad and pathetic.

[west lothian questioner]

11:34 AM on 05/14/2012

Its a source of jobs for thousands of people, and pleasure for millions around the world. Sad? pathetic? I wouldn't be so sure..

[PeterVanKan]

01:03 PM on 05/14/2012

Its a source of jobs for thousands of people, and pleasure for millions around the world.

So are drugs. Does that make them good ?

[RedDog79]

11:38 AM on 05/14/2012

not so true. yes - F1 is about driving, racing and seeing how fast they can push the cars, but it also about development of the next generation's fuel, aerodynamics, car composites, and safety. these are the guys who hang it out so we can actually have hybrids (KERS), safer car panels (carbon fiber), and safety (seatbelts aka harnesses). they also do not allow them to refuel during a race - so they have to have cars that can get better mileage (unlike years ago when they refueled - or NASCAR)

[PeterVanKan]

01:06 PM on 05/14/2012

h yes, that one again. As if the drivers are risking their lives for the greater good of mankind. Don't kid yourself, the people involved courld't care less about the earth, organic food or their own body's true well being.

[GoDogGo]

04:09 AM on 05/14/2012

What is lost in this story is that KERS -- Kinetic Energy Recovery/racing's hybrid system -- was the likely source and could see a setback in development. With F1 as one of the major sources of innovation in cars (road cars/globally), there could easily be a global setback in the future of this technology. There are literally thousands of engineers working in this sport so any adverse event like this can have significant affects on the development of tech that we will use in the years to come. It seems far-fetched but the risk is real.

[Chewbacca of Kashyyyk]

02:37 AM on 05/14/2012

Alain Prost snuck into the garage and poked a hole in the tank. He then lit the leaked fuel.

[Studebaker Hawk]

08:07 AM on 05/14/2012

An Alonso fan set the fire.

[Chewbacca of Kashyyyk]

02:33 AM on 05/14/2012

If Senna was still alive, he would have exhaled into the fire, thus putting it out.

[thatsitfortheotherwon]

06:07 AM on 05/14/2012

One of the greats. I mostly quit following F1 after his death, and I only lived 20 miles from Silverstone at the time.

[tobo]

08:31 AM on 05/14/2012

Compare the drivers from today with Senna, Mansell, Patrese, Berger, Alesi, Piquet, Prost,... The F1 needs some personalities ASAP

[stussmachine]

12:31 AM on 05/14/2012

A bittersweet win for Williams. I'm sure they will take this over their performance last year. I'm just glad to hear no one was seriously injured.