Italy's Giancarlo Fisichella has pulled out of the French Grand Prix after crashing during practice today.
The Jordan team said that full medical checks showed no damage but on the advice of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) medical delegate Professor Sid Watkins, Fisichella would not participate in qualifying for tomorrow’s race.
Prior to the accident he had a time of 1min 14.949sec in practice which was led by four-time world champion Michael Schumacher in a Ferrari, 1:12.974. Fisichella's time was good for 15th at the time.
Fisichella's Jordan hit a kerb and he plunged into a tyre barrier at 200kph.
The Italian had to be helped out of his car and was transferred to the medical support vehicle clutching his right arm.
A few minutes later, he was taken by helicopter to the hospital in Nevers for further examinations.
A FIA spokesman said the driver had being taken to hospital for a precautionary examination, including an MRI scan to check for concussion, but there were no physical injuries.
Fisichella, 29, has scored six points this season with three consecutive fifth places at the Austrian, Monaco and Canadian Grand Prix races.
The practice session was held up almost a half-hour while the tyre barrier was repaired. There is official qualifying later Saturday for Sunday's race, the 11th this season.
AFP
