Kimi Raikkonen's Monaco Grand Prix could have been much worse

Apparently there was a bit of a whoopsie made by officials at Monaco last week. We all know that Kimi Raikkonen was penalized for not having his tires properly fitted at the three minute signal. Raikkonen was given a drive through penalty for it early in the race, but with all of the carnage early in the race the penalty didn't hurt him that much. Surprisngly, that penalty wasn't supposed to happen. Instead Raikkonen should had started from the back of the grid or from the pit lane and no that's not my opinion that is what the rules say.

Rule 38.5 in the F1 sporting regulations reads: �When the three minute signal is shown all cars must have their wheels fitted, after this signal wheels may only be removed in the pit lane or on the grid during a race suspension. Any car which does not have all its wheels fully fitted at the three minute signal must start the race from the back of the grid or the pit lane. Under these circumstances a marshal holding a yellow flag will prevent the car (or cars) from leaving the grid until all cars able to do so have left to start the formation lap.�

So there you have it. Now we could sit here and get into one of those "what could have happened" talks if Kimi had to start from the back, but I certinally won't because it would give me a headache, but go ahead conspiracy theroists start your "engines."

Raikkonen's penalty that never was (Speedtv.com)