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Monaco GP2: Sam Bird feels lucky to win after first-corner tangle

Monaco GP2 feature race victor Sam Bird voiced his relief to even be in the event after being caught up in the first-corner incident

Bird required a new rear wing on his Russian Time car before the restart of Thursday's race due to Kevin Ceccon hitting him at Sainte Devote during the 15-car shunt.

The stewards adjudged that polesitter Johnny Cecotto Jr caused the accident when he braked too late and took Fabio Leimer with him into the barriers, and have suspended him from the rest of the meeting.

Bird admitted that he initially thought his afternoon was over when his car was damaged.

"It was great to be in control for the whole thing," said Bird. "We were actually very fortunate as well. We had a big hit at the start from behind with Ceccon.

"We were very lucky to be able to secure a new rear wing during the red flag. Without it, I would have DNF-ed the race. We were very, very lucky in that respect."

Bird won the race by 22 seconds once he had passed early leader Mitch Evans, who was running a different tyre strategy, during the pitstop cycle.

"Once the race got underway, we had the pace from the start," said Bird. "The pace was never a worry so this was very good."

The victory is Bird's third in GP2, and his second this season.

"It's an amazing to be able to win my first GP2 race in Monaco," he added. "Maybe I should have done it already in the past in GP2, but it felt pretty right today."

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