Kovalainen remembers nothing about Spanish crash

By Alan Baldwin

LONDON (Reuters) - McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen said on Monday he could remember nothing about his Spanish Grand Prix accident after being cleared to leave hospital in Barcelona.

"I have a slight headache and a stiff neck, but apart from that I am feeling well and in good spirits," the Finnish driver said in a statement after the heaviest crash of his Formula One career on Sunday.

"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," added the 26-year-old.

"I don't remember anything from the accident or what happened afterwards," he said.

The Turkish grand prix, fifth round of the season, is in Istanbul on May 11 and Kovalainen will have to satisfy the International Automobile Federation (FIA) that he is fit to compete.

McLaren said the Finn, who crashed while leading in Sunday's race after both Ferraris and team mate Lewis Hamilton had pitted, suffered a wheel rim failure.

They said Kovalainen was travelling at around 240kph when the front left tyre deflated, sending the car into the tyre wall at around 130kph with the driver experiencing a deceleration equivalent to 27g, or 27 times his body weight.

McLaren chief executive Martin Whitmarsh said that was greater than the force experienced on ejecting from a military fighter jet.