By Phil Huff (31/05/2003)
May 31 2003

In the first practice session today Jenson managed to seventh fastest, one place ahead of his team mate Villeneuve. Getting in the miles, both BAR driver's have been putting in some mighty laps. Having completed the most laps today so far, Button's came to a sickening halt in an accident in the second sector, and the session was red-flagged. Coming out of the tunnel the BAR appeared to veer across the track before hitting the wall.

The medical team surrounded the car and tarpaulins were raised to keep out prying eyes and lenses, the Englishman remaining in the car. After an agonizing wait the youngster is lifted from the car and rushed by ambulance to hospital, leaving an ominous silence all around the circuit.

At that point Bob Constanduros calls from the track to say that Jenson is being attended by Professor Sid Watkins and is fully conscious and seems OK, though he's obviously badly shaken. It seems he lost the car under braking and went sideways into the wall, almost a carbon-copy repeat of Karl Wendlinger's crash in '94.

Whether Jenson will be fit enough to make today's qualifying session is unknown at this time.