Heikki Kovalainen has branded his Spanish Grand Prix shunt as the worst accident of his racing career, even though he emerged from underneath the turn nine tyre barrier with little more than bruising and a concussion.
The Finn was leading the Barcelona race - albeit as the first pit-stop window played out - when a wheel rim failure pitched his
McLaren off the track, across the gravel trap, and into the tyres, and it was some time before he could be extricated, causing fears for his safety. However, despite the front of the McLaren breaking off under pressure, Kovalainen required just an overnight stay in the local hospital.
"It was a serious accident [that] I managed to walk away from," he reflected, "I've had a couple of serious accidents before, but I never knocked myself out like that and therefore it's got to be the most serious accident so far.
"I think I was a little bit lucky, but also must stress that all the safety standards that the
FIA has been pushing for worked very well there. The chassis took the impact reasonably well, as did the barriers. The FIA medical team and the marshals did a fantastic job to get me out of there quickly and, in a short period of time, I am able to make a recovery without any injuries in my body. I think it is something that we must still keep working on, but the work paid off that day."
There now appears to be some confusion as to whether the likeable Finn actually lost consciousness in the accident. The driver claims that he may have blacked out temporarily, but insists that, despite having little recollection of the impact and immediate aftermath, he was not unconscious.
"I don't think I lost consciousness at any point," Kovalainen insisted, "The first people who arrived at the scene reported me being awake and assisting getting myself out of there, but I don't have any idea, I don't remember that. But, after such a hit on the head, I think it's a bit of a shutdown by the body to protect your brain and your organs. I don't have any issues with that.
