Raikkonen Survives Testing Shunt at Magny-Cours

Kimi Raikkonen crashed his Sauber in a Formula One test session on Friday and was taken to hospital for routine checks before being released.

Sauber spokeswoman Agnes Carlier said the 21-year-old Finn went off at the L'Ecole corner at Magny-Cours in central France at around 170 kilometres per hour. The car was badly damaged with the two left wheels dangling off.

Although Raikkonen was unhurt he was taken to hospital in Nevers for a medical. He later flew home to Finland. Carlier said the Finn would be fine for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza next week. The crash, on a damp track, ended Sauber's test at the circuit.

It was Raikkonen's first day of testing at Magny-Cours after teammate Nick Heidfeld had driven on Wednesday and Thursday. Raikkonen has been a sensation of the season, joining Sauber after just 23 single-seater races and after winning the Formula Renault title.

Team boss Peter Sauber said this week that he had been talking to Mercedes, McLaren's Formula One partners, about the young driver. Paddock speculation has linked Raikkonen, who has a three-year contract with his Swiss-based team, to both McLaren and Ferrari.

Sauber use Ferrari engines but they entered Formula One with Mercedes after a successful partnership in sportscar racing. McLaren have yet to confirm their line-up for next season amid considerable speculation about the plans of two times champion Mika Hakkinen, who currently partners Briton David Coulthard.