NUERBURGRING, Germany -- McLaren's David Coulthard is hoping that chaos and a possible collision at the opening corner of Sunday's European Grand Prix could play into his hands.

The Scot, who has revitalized his season with podium finishes in the last two events, believes the new opening turn at the Nuerburgring could increase his chances of a top-three placing with problems predicted at the start of the race.

"It is going to be very difficult at the first corner," the 31-year-old Coulthard said. "A lot of drivers have expressed their disappointment at the entry and, if you do take the inside line, you run wide on the exit.

"I think at the start we will all be going in on different lines and there is a reasonable chance of something happening."

The Scot qualified fifth on Saturday for Sunday's race -- behind the Williams pair of Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher and the Ferrari duo of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello.

Montoya and world champion Michael Schumacher were involved in collisions at the start of the Malaysian and Brazilian grands prix as they vied for the lead and Coulthard said a similar scenario would help his cause.

"I would be delighted (if something happened in front)," he said. "But it is all part of racing and I think I will be just as cautious as everyone else. It will be interesting.

"They (Schumacher and Montoya) have had incidents in the past in Brazil and Malaysia and Michael knows that the start is his best chance to get ahead. The start is always a difficult time - you just got to go for it."

But Coulthard said his chances of a podium, without the help of an early collision, were limited.

"We'll just hope for a good start and a good strategy," he said.

The Scot readily accepted that Williams have emerged as the second best team in this year's championship race behind Ferrari.

"It would be a miracle for me and a disaster for Williams if I am second this year," he said. "They've got a quicker car and a better package at the moment."

Ferrari's Schumacher has a 43-point lead over Williams pair Ralf and Montoya with Coulthard a point further back. In the manufacturers' standings, Ferrari's haul of 86 points leaves them 32 clear of Williams and 53 ahead of McLaren.