On top of that, Michael Schumacher had damaged his car in a first-lap accident with Jarno Trulli and it was a good opportunity for Coulthard to extend his lead over the German.
Syrian state television, meanwhile, broadcast images early Monday showing a damaged police car in Damascus and a pillar with a missing chunk of concrete outside the Central Bank of Syria building, also in the capital.
Hamilton's gameplan kept him ahead of a slightly off-color Raikkonen, who was hindered by a cardamaged after contact with the luckless Kovalainen at the start.