Bad crash for Button

[Claw]

Jenson Button has had a big crash in the second practice session and Dave Richards has said it's unlikly for Jenson to qualify or race this weekend.
The accident happen out of the tunnel and is a replica of Karl Wendlingers crash in 1994.
Jenson has no broken bones and it's reported he's ok.

Real shame as Button was looking good for his first podium.

[The Stig]

The decision to race appears to be out of the teams control. The final say will go to Professor Sid Watkins tomorrow morning. Interesting interview with Alan McNish on the ITV show today, he suggested Jensen might be ok now, but having slept on it, he may well stiffen up and be far more bruised. Really hope Jensen can race, but if not, you can fully understand.

[touringlegend]

That was really bad and freakish how his car "dissapeared" in the tyres...:( I hope he races tomorrow, but if he doesn't will Takuma Sato or Ant Davidson take his place ?

[The Stig]

Not certain if the rules permit such a thing. Presumably at such a high profile event as Monte Carlo with all the corporate big cheeses present, title sponsors etc would demand two cars participating.

[Reynard]

In order to race, a driver MUST have taken part in at least one of the timed sessions. Basically that rules out both Anthony and Takuma if Jenson doesn't race.

It was a big impact though fortunately didn't cause any serious injury. But let me just say that the FIA and the teams are doing a lot of work in the area of side impacts.

There are crush structures in the sidepods that are designed specifically to collapse under impact, therefore dissipating the energy generated by the crash and directing it away from the driver. There is also a test that is put in place to determine the load bearing, energy absorption and perforation resistance characteristics of the basic chassis construction - if a composite doesn't pass that test, it isn't allowed on the car.

These two measures (both introduced from 2001 onwards) have made a real difference in the area of driver safety. Think about it - a few years ago, Button would likely have been seriously injured by the impact that he was subjected to today.

(This is my research area btw, so I guess I've got license to offer a little enlightenment ;))

[Peter]

The most recent update I can give you is that Jenson will be kept in hospital overnight.

Personally, I would be extremely surprised if he competed tomrrow.

[Claw]

Plus Sato is still in England. A reserve driver is ment to be at the race, in case something like this happens!

[cos]

In an interview on ITV with Geoff Willis yesterday, he said that Sato "wasn't here" - ***'s law!

[Les]

I don't think it would have made any difference if he was there or not. He didn't run the car so wouldn't be allowed in the race.

[Alan]

Apparently Sato could have raced if he had run in the second qualifying session. Bit odd he was not there if you ask me.

[Ed- the MG fan]

Out fo all the drviers I was expecting to crash I thought it would have been one of the rookies. Thought it was quite funny that Firman's mechcanics were having a bet if he would crash.

But all weekend the more expericed drvers were ending up in the wall- Alonso, Button, Frenzten, Rubens, and even Micahel Schumacher

[touring fan]

I thought it was a bit odd he wasn't there too, especially the way that the team didn't want to say he wasn't there (he isn't available etc etc) and the team member being interviewed didn't have a reply to the comment about the fact that a reserve driver should turn up to races.