[kSmica]

11:22 GMT, 14 May 2012 Associated Press

16 Injured When Fire Broke Out in Victorious Williams Team's Garage



The Spanish Grand Prix was thrown into chaos last night when 16 people were injured in a team garage blaze. Flames took over the
Williams pit stand just moments after Venezuelan driver Pastor Maldonado had taken the Barcelona title - in doing so scooping the
first grand prix win for the British-based team in eight years.

One Williams employee was airlifted to Barcelona hospital with serious burn wounds while five others were taken to local hospital for
smoke inhalation. A further ten people were treated at the Catalunya Circuit for smoke inhalation before being released.



The fire is thought to have been caused by an electrical fault with Maldonado's teammate Bruno Senna's car, which was in the garage
having crashed earlier in the race.

Flames spread quickly through the garage, sending thick plumes of black smoke out onto the circuit. Williams' wheelchair-bound founder
Sir Frank Williams - celebrating his 70th birthday - had to be lifted to safety shortly after giving his victory speech.

Maldonado also had to play hero, giving his cousin Manuel - whose right leg was in a cast - a piggy back away from the flames.

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.