Hamilton Crashes, Raikkonen Takes The Pole Position For European Grand Prix

Saturday, July 21st 2007, 2:28 pm

By: News On 6

NUERBURG, Germany (AP) -- Formula One championship leader Lewis Hamilton appeared to escape serious injury when he crashed into a wall during qualifying Saturday for the European Grand Prix in which Kimi Raikkonen took the pole.

After spending about two hours under observation and undergoing a scan in a military hospital in nearby Koblenz, Hamilton returned to the circuit and his McLaren team's motor home, hoping to race Sunday.

"It was a bit unfortunate, but I am feeling fine," Hamilton said. "I'm very fortunate, very lucky that I haven't got any bruises -- although I'm sure tomorrow I'll wake up with some. But the most important thing is I am OK."

McLaren boss Ron Dennis said Hamilton hadn't broken anything and wanted to race, but that it was up to the doctors to clear him. No decision will be made until a final checkup Sunday before the 60-lap race. If Hamilton races Sunday, he will start from 10th
position on the grid.

The Englishman hit the wall hard after he slid across the gravel next to the track when the right-front wheel of his McLaren was damaged.

Dennis said the crash happened because the wheel wasn't properly put on.

"We are going to look into how it could happen," Dennis said. "At least we know we don't have a problem with the car."

Hamilton is seeking to become the first driver to win the championship in his rookie F1 season. He has won two races and finished in the top three in all nine.

His first crash in Formula One came in a curve that will be named after Michael Schumacher to honor the seven-time champion who retired at the end of last season -- and won last year's race here.

The qualifying session was stopped with 5 minutes, 31 seconds remaining and it took about 30 minutes for the session to resume.

"Sometimes it's difficult to wait, you have to be patient and do the best you can when you go out again," said Raikkonen, who grabbed his second pole of the season and 13th of his career.

The Ferrari driver, who is coming off two consecutive F1 wins, drove the fastest lap on the 3.2-mile Nuerburgring circuit in 1 minute, 31.450 seconds.

"I am in the best possible position on the grid but I am well aware that we can expect a very tough race," he said.

Fernando Alonso, the two-time defending champion who trails Hamilton by 12 points after nine of 17 races, was second in1:31.741. Felipe Massa of Ferrari was third in 1:31.778.

Hamilton's mechanical problems didn't worry Alonso, who also drives for McLaren.

"The car was running fine," Alonso said. "But the best news of the day is that Lewis seems fine."

Raikkonen, who had the fastest times in two of three practice sessions, said his Ferrari was running well all weekend.

Ferrari won last year's race, with seven-time champion Michael Schumacher at the wheel in his final season before retiring.

Nick Heidfeld, whose girlfriend gave birth to their second child earlier in the day, was fourth and Robert Kubica fifth, both in BMW-Sauber cars. Mark Weber was sixth in his Red Bull.