Formula 1:Formula One championship leader Lewis Hamilton has been provisionally cleared to race in tomorrow's European Grand Prix after a terrifying 150mph crash into a tyre barrier during qualifying today.
Hamilton skidded off the track at the Nurburgring in Germany after a faulty airgun led to the front-right wheel of his car working loose.
Hamilton escaped injury and CT scans taken at a nearby military hospital have also come back clear. The 22-year-old will undergo a procedural check tomorrow morning to be conducted by the FIA's medical delegate, Gary Hartstein.
If Hamilton is fit, he will start from 10th on the grid - his lowest qualifying position of the season. Finn Kimi Raikkonen is in pole, with defending champion Fernando Alonso in second and the other Ferrari of Felipe Massa in third.
"It was a bit unfortunate, but I am feeling fine," said Hamilton outside the McLaren garage after being released from hospital. "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 okay, and the team are doing a good job to make sure we have a good car for tomorrow.
"Ron (Dennis) says I have to be signed off tomorrow morning, so we have to wait and see, but I feel fine for the race, so fingers crossed."
McLaren boss Dennis added: "He has no bruising, he has no damage anywhere, he is not sore anywhere.
"He is absolutely fine, all the scans are fine, and at this moment in time there is no medical reason why he can't race.
The crash occurred with just over five minutes remaining of the final 15-minute qualifying session, with Hamilton on a fast lap.
With the front of his car embedded in a tyre barrier, Hamilton managed to climb out of the cockpit. But as he tried to steady himself his legs gave way and he slumped on to the gravel.
The practice session was immediately brought to a halt and the Briton was quickly attended to by stewards. After 13 minutes Hamilton was lifted into the back of the ambulance with his neck in a precautionary brace.
He was seen waving and giving a thumbs-up sign as he was loaded into the ambulance. Dennis conceded that he was seriously concerned at one point because the team was unable to make contact with its young star.
"The most disturbing thing was we couldn't speak to him," recalled Dennis. "It took 30 to 45 seconds to realise the impact had failed the radio, and in that period there was no dialogue and no reassurance of him saying 'I'm fine'.
Hamilton's career appeared to be accelerating at an impressive rate until today's crash.
The rookie driver won his first Grand Prix last month at the Gilles Villeneuve circuit in Montreal in only his sixth race in the top flight.
The win capped a record breaking start to Hamilton's Formula One career that has seen him become the first competitor to finish on the podium in his first three races.