Jordan launch inquiry into Firman crash
Jordan today launched an immediate inquiry into Ralph Firman’s horrifying 150mph smash in the first of today’s free practice sessions ahead of tomorrow’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
On one of the fastest parts of the Hungaroring circuit the rear wing of Firman’s Jordan alarmingly became detached and flew into the air, leaving it with no downforce which is vital to keeping the car on the track.
Out of control the Jordan initially pirouetted through 360 degrees and started to career backwards before eventually slamming sideways into a tyre wall with incredible force.
Firman briefly sat motionless for a few heart-stopping moments before quickly being attended to by trackside marshals, with the 45-minute session swiftly brought to a halt.
The shunt was easily worse than that for Jenson Button during Saturday’s second practice session for the Monaco Grand Prix earlier this season, an accident which resulted in the 23-year-old missing the race.
In the following few minutes it became apparent Firman had escaped serious injury as he initially clambered from the battered Jordan unaided, although he was obviously very shaken.
After being placed on a stretcher he then removed his helmet before being taken to the track’s medical centre by ambulance to be checked over by FIA medical delegate Professor Sid Watkins, giving a wave to indicate he was okay as he was wheeled in.
Following a 15-minute examination, the 28-year-old from Norwich was then transported to a nearby Budapest hospital by helicopter for a scan after seemingly suffering nothing more than bruising to a leg, much to the relief of team chief Eddie Jordan.
“We have had good news from the Professor that Ralph is going for a scan as a precautionary measure,” said Jordan, who received a consoling pat from Prof Watkins as they chatted.
“He has a slight pain in his foot, but apart from that is in good condition and is very much aware of what is happening.
“They are just taking precautionary measures to make sure he is completely checked out in hospital.”
Jordan’s own precautionary measures, after the car and the recovered wing had been taken back to their pit-lane garage, began with the decision not to allow Giancarlo Fisichella to take to the track for the closing 15 minutes after the session was restarted following a half-hour delay.
The Italian did take part in the second and final session of the day soon after, completing 14 laps and finishing 16th, almost 2.5 seconds adrift of Ralf Schumacher as the Williams-BMW driver posted the quickest time of the morning.
The German clocked one minute 21.939 seconds, with brother Michael again having to settle for second and Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello third, just as they were in the first session.
Juan Pablo Montoya finished fourth, while the Jaguar of Mark Webber continued to impress as he was fifth, with Kimi Raikkonen sixth, although posing problems for the McLaren mechanics as his engine blew late on.
Team-mate David Coulthard was ninth, with Jenson Button 11th in his BAR and Justin Wilson 13th in the second Jaguar, albeit with the drivers doing nothing more than limbering up for this afternoon’s all-important second qualifying run.
