27/04/2008 15:07

Barcelona - Formula One driver Heikki Kovalainen has been carried away on a stretcher after a high-speed crash at the Spanish Grand Prix.

The McLaren driver's front left tire exploded on Sunday and the Finn crashed into a wall of tires on a bend. Race stewards worked for around 10 minutes to free Kovalainen.

He was taken to the track's medical centre wearing a neck brace but gave a thumbs-up sign to spectators. Officials said Kovalainen was in stable condition and gave no further details.

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