Kristensen, Premat hospitalized after smash

UPDATE The round at Hockenheim was overshadowed by a serious accident on the opening lap, which involved Audi drivers Tom Kristensen (Denmark), Alexandre Prémat (France) and Adam Carroll (Great Britain). After slight contact with another car, Kristensen had spun at the entrance to the "Parabolica" and was then "torpedoed"" at high speed by several vehicles running behind him. While Carroll sustained no injuries in the accident at all, Kristensen and Prémat required medical attention at the site of the crash. Both drivers were subsequently taken to the trackside Medical Center, and later to hospitals for thorough medical examinations.

Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen was found to have merely suffered bruises, while Alexandre Prémat sustained a rupture of a lumbar vertebrae, which, according to doctors, will not result in any permanent damage, though. Nevertheless, the Frenchman will not be able to compete for several weeks.

Both Audi drivers owe the fact that the accident did not lead to any more serious consequences to the extremely high safety standard of the Audi A4 DTM. The safety cells of both cars remained intact. The frontal impact suffered by Alexandre Prémat occurred at 158 kph.

04/22/07 Tom Kristensen and Alexandre Premat have been taken to hospital after a big accident on the first lap of the opening DTM round at Hockenheim Sunday. The accident involved four cars. Kristensen came together with teammate Timo Scheider at the Parabolica, spinning on the track and being collected at high-speed by Premat.

While Susie Stoddart and Adam Carroll escaped unharmed, both Kristensen and Premat were taken to hospital for precautionary exams.

“I could see something had happened in front of me and all of a sudden I was in a cloud of smoke and everything was black," said Adam Carroll. “I tried to move away from the smoke and get some vision and then I hit someone hard. I don't know who.

“I got out and spoke to Alex (Premat) and switched off his car which was still running. I am fine but my car definitely is not – that will be a big job to fix it."

Mattias Ekstrom won the restarted race beating Martin Tomczyk and polesitter Bruno Spengler.