'Incorrect paint job to blame for Heikki's crash'

HEIKKI KOVALAINEN

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Thursday 8th May 2008

McLaren have revealed the use of the wrong lacquer coating, ie paint job, is to blame for Heikki Kovalainen's horrific Spanish GP shunt.

The Finn suffered a concussion when the front left tyre of his MP4-23 disintegrated on lap 22 of the grand prix, sending him hurtling into the tyre wall head-on.

McLaren, together with Japanese supplier Enkei, who produce their wheels, investigated the crash, ruling that it has been caused by the wheel being incorrectly coated with a clear lacquer.

"During the recent Spanish Grand Prix a new front wheel on Heikki car failed on Lap 22," the team statement said.

"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."

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