Kovalainen in stable condition after crash at Spanish GP

Finnish McLaren-Mercedes Formula One driver Heikki Kovalainen is taken out of his car after he crashed during the Spanish Grand Prix at the Catalonian racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday, April 27, 2008. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)

BARCELONA, Spain—McLaren driver Heikki Kovalainen was taken to the hospital by helicopter after a high-speed crash at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday.

McLaren said Kovalainen complained of neck and head pain but was in stable condition.

Kovalainen's front left tire exploded and he crashed into a wall of tires on a bend during the 22nd lap of the Formula One race.

Stewards worked for about 10 minutes to free Kovalainen, who was initially taken to the track's medical center wearing a neck brace. He gave a thumbs-up sign to spectators.

Nearly the entire front end of Kovalainen's car was missing after the crash.

Teammate Lewis Hamilton said he didn't know who had crashed until team principal Ron Dennis came on the radio.

"I was a bit terrified for whoever it was. Ron came on the radio halfway through and said (Kovalainen) was OK, slightly concussed," said Hamilton, who finished third.

Hamilton wasn't rattled, despite having experienced a similar accident at Nurburgring last year.

"If you let those things get to your mind, then you're in trouble. It never crossed my mind once," he said.

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