F1: FIA launches Alonso crash probe

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The FIA has confirmed that it is to investigate the circumstances surrounding McLaren driver Fernando Alonso's Barcelona Formula 1 testing accident to find out if lessons can be learned.

Although the governing body does not automatically review all incidents at tests, because they are organized by teams rather than being an official FIA-run event, the fact that Alonso spent three days in hospital after the crash has prompted it into action. The FIA has already begun working in cooperation with McLaren to go through the accident data. Sources also have revealed that closed-circuit TV footage of the Alonso crash has been sourced and will be used to try to give some better insight into exactly what happened.

It is understood the low-quality footage was taken from a camera near Turn 4 looking back at the exit of Turn 3 - and it captures Alonso running wide, trying to correct his car and then slowing down before crashing into the wall on the inside.

An FIA spokesman said that it was important for the governing body to try to see if there are any safety improvements that can be made.

"We will be looking very carefully at what happened," said the spokesman. "We want to know what took place, so we will be gathering all the information that we can, as well as fully cooperating with McLaren."

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The fact that Alonso spent three nights in hospital following his crash has prompted wild speculation that the incident was not as normal as McLaren has made out. The uncertainty has been further exacerbated by McLaren not making public data about the speed of what is believed to be two impacts with the wall, nor of the G-forces that Alonso experienced.

McLaren has strongly refuted suggestions that Alonso was unconscious before the crash, and insists that the most likely explanation for the accident was that the Spaniard was caught out by a sudden gust of wind.

Originally on Autosport.com