McLaren statement regarding cause of Kovalainen crash

Almost two weeks after the heavy crash of Heikki Kovalainen during the Spanish Grand Prix, the McLaren Mercedes Team issues a statement on the cause of the accident. The team and its official supplier of wheels have established new procedures designed to prevent a re-occurrence of this issue.

"During the recent Spanish Grand Prix a new front wheel on Heikki car failed on lap 22.

"Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and its Official Supplier of wheels have now conducted a thorough technical investigation to determine the exact cause of the failure.

"It has been established that, owing to a process fault during manufacture, the outer clamp surface of the wheel was given a clear lacquer coating. As a consequence of this fault, the clamp load that attached the wheel was not to specification.

"In running, the consequent loss of load caused the wheel to fret and distort, leading to its eventual failure.

"Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and the wheel supplier have now established new procedures designed to prevent a re-occurrence of this issue."