THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BARCELONA, Spain — Heikki Kovalainen is planning on racing in Turkey in two weeks despite being hospitalized after a high-speed crash at the Spanish Grand Prix at the weekend.
The McLaren driver was travelling at 240 km/h when his car went off the track and slammed into the protective wall at the Circuit de Catalunya on Sunday. The 26-year-old Finn, who was briefly unconscious, was taken by helicopter to a local hospital but escaped without serious injuries.
Kovalainen, who is expected to be released from the hospital later Monday, said he had a slight headache and a stiff neck but is optimistic he will be allowed to drive at the Turkish GP on May 11.
"My focus is on getting better as soon as possible so I can pass the FIA medical inspection required to allow me to race in Turkey," he said in a statement.
McLaren said Kovalainen underwent further tests and scans on Monday, which all went well and showed no problems.
"Consequently, Heikki will be released from hospital later today," McLaren said in a statement. "He will then stay in Spain for a few days relaxing before returning home to start a light training program."
Kovalainen said he didn’t remember anything from the accident or what happened afterward, but thanked all those who looked after him.
"Also, thank you for all the messages I have received — they all mean a lot," Kovalainen said.
McLaren team doctor Aki Hintsa told The Associated Press he was happy with Kovalainen’s recovery.
"Considering the crash he had, he is doing very well," Hintsa said.
A reporter with The Associated Press saw a conscious Kovalainen being wheeled into his hospital room Monday with an IV drip attached to his arm. Several medical staff from the hospital who had been in and out of his quarters said he was talking and in good spirits.
"He has had a full head scan and there is no significant bruising or damage — that’s extremely good news," McLaren team CEO Martin Whitmarsh said in a statement. "Heikki was briefly unconscious, but he was lucid soon after the accident and I’m told he was actually quite jolly, which is fairly typical."
McLaren said a wheel-rim failure caused the front-left tire of his car to explode as he came running into the high-speed turn No. 9. Kovalainen, who was on his 22nd lap, was at nearly full speed into the wall, which was backed by five rows of tires. Kovalainen, who started the Formula One race from sixth place, was in the lead at the time after the leaders had pitted.
"It’s possible that some debris worked its way inside the rim, but we still have to analyze that," Whitmarsh said. "It was a new wheel and we don’t think it was a structural failure. There were some score marks, but we don’t know whether they were caused by debris or by his trip across the gravel trap. We’ve got to answer that later."
Kovalainen said he was glad of the strength of the seating area in his car.
"What is especially important is the fact that the monocoque withstood the heavy impact, so credit should also be given to everyone at McLaren for that," Kovalainen said.
Several drivers had spun out at that same corner during the first two days of practice on Friday and Saturday.