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Montoya crashes in Spain
McLaren's Juan Pablo Montoya escaped unhurt from a heavy crash.
McLaren's Juan Pablo Montoya escaped unhurt on Friday from a heavy crash on his return to Formula One after a two-race absence due to injury.
The Colombian, who missed the last two races due to a hairline fracture of the shoulder, ploughed into the tyre wall at turn nine just before the end of second practice for the Spanish Grand Prix.
He appeared to be suffering some pain in his left arm as he scrambled to safety but said afterwards that he was fine and fit to race.
"I'm sorry for the guys who have to repair the damage overnight," he said in a team statement. "I don't know what happened, I just lost it. I went to see the FIA medical delegate afterwards and he said I was absolutely fine.
"My shoulder has been coping well and until the last lap everything had been going according to plan. I'm excited about the rest of the weekend and hopefully we will put on a good show."
Team boss Ron Dennis said Montoya had made a mistake while Mercedes motorsport head Norbert Haug said the Colombian was "pushing a bit too hard".
McLaren said the car had suspension, radiator and bodywork damage to the right side as well as smashed front and rear wings but it would be repaired for Saturday's practice.
Montoya missed the Bahrain and San Marino Grands Prix after injuring himself playing tennis at the end of March.
He was replaced in Bahrain by Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa, the test driver who topped the times for McLaren in both of Friday's hour-long sessions at his home circuit.
