Raikkonen Says Not to Blame for Crash

Kimi Raikkonen refused to take the blame for the opening lap accident which put him out of the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim and left him nursing a bruised leg and stiff neck.

The McLaren-Mercedes driver made a quick start but was sent crashing into the tyre barriers at high-speed after Williams' Ralf Schumacher had squeezed Rubens Barrichello's Ferrari onto Raikkonen.

Raikkonen, who had nudged ahead of both drivers from the third row of the grid, refused to take the blame as his Championship challenge suffered.

"It wasn't a risk," Raikkonen said of his move. "I was clearly ahead of Barrichello and I don't know what happened, he just took my rear wheel off. I don't know if he moved to the left because Ralf tried to block him. I wouldn't say it was too risky because I got ahead of him.

"It doesn't matter who you blame, it doesn't change anything. But I'm not taking the blame. It has happened and you can't change anything."

He took comfort from title leader Michael Schumacher finishing seventh and added: "It was the only good thing that happened today. At least we are still in the chase, it makes our life more difficult."

Ralf Schumacher, who caused the incident by moving across the left side of the track, claimed he was merely defending his position. The German said: "It is certainly a bit disappointing. I haven't seen the incident yet but I was trying to defend my position."

Raikkonen's McLaren team boss Ron Dennis added: "It was triggered by a slow start by Rubens. I don't think that Ralf squeezed Rubens deliberately but that's what caused it. It was a racing incident."