Finn on a flyer as Briscoe escapes injury in high-speed crash

FINN Kimi Raikkonen finished fastest on the opening day of practice for the Belgian Grand Prix after Australian Ryan Briscoe escaped injury in a high-speed crash yesterday.

Raikkonen set a time of 1.44.701 secs to head the field as world champion Michael Schumacher failed to find his form and finished behind Briton Jenson Button in third place after an uncharacteristic spin.

But Toyota test driver Briscoe made the headlines when he escaped unharmed after crashing his car at the notorious Eau Rouge corner with 15 minutes of the afternoon session completed. The Australian, who was promoted to the third driver role at the last race in Hungary, had an unpleasant introduction to the classic Belgian circuit when he lost control as he accelerated down the hill towards the flat-out turn. He lost two wheels in an initial impact before flying across the track and colliding with the tyre barriers on the opposite side of the track while one wheel continued bouncing down the track.