Kovalainen taken to hospital after crash

By Alan Baldwin

BARCELONA (Reuters) - McLaren's Finnish driver Heikki Kovalainen was taken to hospital on Sunday after being knocked unconscious in a heavy crash at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Team boss Ron Dennis, who blamed the accident on a wheel rim failure, told reporters that the 26-year-old was concussed but had suffered no external injuries and brain scans showed no trauma.

He said there was a good chance of Kovalainen being available for the next race, the fifth round of the Formula One season, in Turkey on May 11.

"There's no damage or bruising or bleeding so we are quite optimistic about the next race," said Dennis.

"I have spoken to our doctor at the hospital and they are quite optimistic at this very early stage that he will be able to race."

The Finn, who was leading after both Ferraris and team mate Lewis Hamilton had pitted, speared straight into the tyre wall at speed on the 22nd of 66 laps with the car penetrating deep under the barrier.

The team had no radio contact after the impact, with the driver slumped unconscious in the cockpit while marshals tried to pull the car out.

Kovalainen, who joined McLaren from Renault at the end of last season, gave a thumbs-up sign as he was taken away on a stretcher in a neck brace while the safety car was deployed.