Kimi crash not caused by failure

(GMM) Kimi Raikkonen had to use Ferrari's spare car for qualifying at Monza following his high speed practice shunt earlier on Saturday.

The Finn will not be penalized ten grid places, however, after mechanics for the Maranello based team switched the intact engine from his damaged F2007 to the T-car.

A Ferrari spokesman said here that initial investigations showed that the practice accident, in which the rear of Raikkonen's car initially swerved into the retaining wall under braking for the Ascari chicane, was actually not a technical failure.

"It just happened that he braked on a bump; he braved very hard and he lost the rear," the spokesman told the British broadcaster ITV.

He added: "No mechanical failure, as far as we have seen, and no driver mistakes (either)."

Luca Colajanni also stated that he thought Raikkonen's performance would suffer in qualifying due to his lack of running here so far.

Raikkonen, 28, qualified just fifth for Sunday's Italian grand prix.

Kimi lost practice time with an hydraulic problem on Friday, and had completed just three laps on Saturday before his crash.

"So compared to the others for sure he has a handicap," Colajanni said.