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The Circuit

Kovalainen passed fit for Turkey

  • Story Highlights
  • Kovalainen given clearance to race in Turkey after serious crash
  • The Finn is delighted to be back racing and plays down accident
  • Driver returned to training almost immediately following his hospitalization
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By Glen Scanlon
For CNN
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LONDON, England (CNN) -- McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen has been given medical clearance to race in the Turkish Grand Prix after his serious accident in Spain.

McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen trained hard to be fit for the Turkish Grand Prix.

Kovalainen was flown to hospital after a left-tire puncture sent him into a tire wall while traveling at 240kph at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya.

He was uninjured, bar a sore neck and headache, and returned to training later the same week, but had to pass an FIA medical Thursday before being allowed to race.

The Finn was delighted to be given the green light.

"I am obviously very pleased with the decision by the FIA medical team.

"I arrived here today feeling confident that I would pass the FIA test as I feel 100 percent and if I had not felt 100 percent I would have told the team already and stayed at home."

Kovalainen said his preparation for the weekend had gone well.

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"We have done a lot of fitness training. Obviously a big thumbs up for all the FIA safety standards and the guys in Spain who worked hard to get me out of the car safely.

"I think the accident probably looked worse than it was for me. I had a little headache but was back in training almost immediately. I now look forward to the rest of the weekend and the rest of the season."

All About Heikki KovalainenMcLaren GroupTeam McLaren MercedesMartin Whitmarsh

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