Massa hospitalised in testing shunt

Massa hospitalised
By Phil Huff (04/02/2004)
February 4 2004

Just days after passing the mandatory FIA crash test, Felipe Massa has performed his own test. Crashing out of testing at Barcelona this morning, Massa was taken to the Catalunya General Hospital as a precaution.

It appears initially that the accident was caused by mechanical failure, with witnesses claiming the right-front suspension removed itself from the car. This happened at the quick Elf turn, the first corner on the circuit, which has an entry speed of around 85mph, assuming all four wheels are on the car.

In 2001 Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer went off on the same corner, barrel rolling across the gravel before landing on the tyre wall. More recently, Antonia Pizzonia rolled a Jaguar S-Type with 3 journalists and TV cameras on board during a Jaguar press day.

Sauber Petronas have cut short their test.