Raikkonen grabs pole as Hamilton crashes heavily

By Elmar Dreher Jul 21, 2007, 19:18 GMT

British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton McLaren Mercedes lies on a stretcher to be evacuated with a helicopter after an accident during the Qualifying Session at the Nürburgring 21 July 2007 in Nürburg, Germany. The Formula One Grand Prix of Europe will take place here on 22 July 2007. EPA/ROLAND WEIHRAUCH

Nuerburg, Germany - Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen claimed pole position Saturday for the European Grand Prix but the qualifying session was overshadowed as championship leader Lewis Hamilton was taken away in an ambulance after a high-speed crash.

Hamilton crashed into a tyre wall at the Schumacher-S curve in the final qualifying session at the Nuerburgring but the 22-year-old Briton said he felt fine and wanted to race.

'I'm absolutely fine and we will see later if I am able to race tomorrow,' said the 22-year-old Briton.

'Everybody has been looking after me really well. We know what caused the accident and I'm just pleased that everything is OK and I really hope I can race tomorrow.'

A decision on whether Hamilton is allowed to race is dependent on the advice of the doctors and is expected to be made on Sunday.

The front right tyre of Hamilton's McLaren-Mercedes appeared to fail in the corner, leading to the heavy crash, and although the 22- year-old appeared seriously shaken by the impact he was able to pull himself slowly from the car wreckage.

The session was halted after the accident as the Briton received treatment by race medics at the scene of the crash and although he was taken away in an ambulance Hamilton raised his hand and gave the thumbs up sign as he lay on the stretcher.

Qualifying for Sunday's race continued once the car wreckage was removed and the tyre wall repaired with Raikkonen registering a fastest time of 1 minute 31.450 seconds for the 5.148-kilometre circuit.

Defending world champion Alonso in the second McLaren will start from second on the grid alongside Raikkonen thanks to a time of 1:31.778 minutes with Ferrari's Felipe Massa third.

The BMW-Saubers of Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica qualified in fourth and fifth, respectively, while Red Bull's Mark Webber will start from sixth on the grid.

Renault's Heikki Kovalainen starts from seventh followed by the Toyotas of Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher with Hamilton provisionally completing the top 10.

If Hamilton is unable to start, then McLaren will only have Alonso's car in the race, a situation that Raikkonen admitted would improve his chances of victory.

'It's a bit easier with the one car only,' said the Finn. 'We'll just have to do our best and hopefully we can win.'

In the drivers' championship, Hamilton leads after nine of 17 races with 70 points from team-mate Fernando Alonso on 58 points. Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen lies third on 52 points, one clear of team- mate Felipe Massa.

McLaren lead Ferrari in the constructors' standings by 128 to 104 points.