Alonso`s right wheel clipped Esteban Gutierrez`s Haas at high speed going into turn three of the 18th lap and the impact sent the Spaniard`s McLaren careening into a barrier, smashing it to pieces, before it flipped, rolled and flew end-over-end into another barrier.
The two-time Formula One world champion emerged from the wreckage and walked gingerly over to Mexican Gutierrez, where the pair embraced.
"I`m okay, I`m trying to put everything in place again," the 34-year-old told Sky Sports in the paddock after Nico Rosberg won the race for Mercedes.
"It was a scary crash. Lucky to be here and happy to be here, and thankful to be here -- especially to the (governing body) FIA and all the safety, thanks to that probably I`m alive.
"We lost the power unit and the car because there was a lot of damage, but I`m super happy to be talking."
Race control said Alonso`s contact with Gutierrez would be investigated but the Spaniard said neither driver was to blame.
"We were racing, I kept in the slip-stream as late as I could and at the last moment I tried to move.
"It`s tough, you can only see the rear wing, you don`t have the full view of the track. And same for him, he`s defending and can`t see what the other guy is doing. So we are both happy."
It was a disappointing day all round for McLaren, with Alonso`s team mate Jenson Button finishing 14th out of the 16 finishers.
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