Wednesday May 10th, 2000

David Coulthard raced at Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix with three cracked ribs following a fatal plane crash, his McLaren team said on Wednesday.

They said the British driver, who finished second behind Finnish team mate Mika Hakkinen in the race, had a detailed medical inspection at London's Princess Grace Hospital on Tuesday.

"The inspection established that David has a bruised right chest wall and that the eighth, ninth and 10th ribs on his right side are cracked," a team statement said.

The injuries are more serious than first thought. Coulthard was thought to have escaped with heavy bruising and grazes.

McLaren quoted the International Automobile Federation (FIA)'s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sid Watkins, as saying after the examination:

"I am absolutely confident that David will race at the European Grand Prix and that these findings will not influence his performance."

The European Grand Prix, the sixth round in the championship, is at the Nurburgring in Germany on May 21.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis also said he had no doubt that Coulthard would race at the Nuerburgring.

"He is not participating in our test at Jerez in Spain this week to allow time for his injuries to heal," he said.