Badoer Sidelined By Testing Shunt.
Minardi driver Luca Badoer spent time in hospital yesterday (Sunday), after suffering an accident in testing at Fiorano.
The sometime Ferrari test driver was shaking down Minardi's latest developments when the drive-by-wire system on the MO1 chassis failed, sending the Italian into the barriers at speed. Badoer was taken to the Policlinico hospital in Modena almost immediately, but was diagnosed as only having suffered hand injuries. Dr Claudio Castagnetti later performed a minor operation on the fracture, in the hope that it may hasten healing time for the Italian.
Minardi driver Luca Badoer spent time in hospital yesterday (Sunday), after suffering an accident in testing at Fiorano.
The sometime Ferrari test driver was shaking down Minardi's latest developments when the drive-by-wire system on the MO1 chassis failed, sending the Italian into the barriers at speed. Badoer was taken to the Policlinico hospital in Modena almost immediately, but was diagnosed as only having suffered hand injuries. Dr Claudio Castagnetti later performed a minor operation on the fracture, in the hope that it may hasten healing time for the Italian.
It remains to be seen, however, whether Badoer will be fit to drive for Minardi in the Brazilian Grand Prix in less than two weeks. The Interlagos circuit is notoriously hard on drivers, and the team may decide not to take a risk on the injured Italian.
Minardi suspended testing for the rest of the day after Badoer's accident, but was expected to resume this morning with its other driver, Spaniard Marc Gene.
