McLaren MP4-23 - Kovalainen wheel rim failure 28 April 2008
McLaren suspect Kovalainen's huge accident in the Spanish Grand Prix was the result of a failure of the forged magnesium wheel rim. The exact cause of that failure is as yet unknown - a stone or some other debris getting into the wheel is the primary suspect, while other possibilities include an unusually heavy impact with a kerb or even a manufacturing fault. What is known is that the failure caused the tyre to suddenly deflate and almost certainly destroyed the steering linkage (inset), making it impossible for Kovalainen to steer the car, with the left wheel completely out of control.
