Fisi escapes test shunt.

Giancarlo Fisichella emerged almost completely unhurt from a massive accident while testing in Valencia this afternoon [Wednesday].

Sources report that the Italian's Benetton was collided with compatriot Jarno Trulli's Jordan and somersaulted into the turn seven gravel trap at the Ricardo Tormo circuit, which the teams are using as a test venue for the first time. Fisichella suffered just a minor thumb injury in the impact, which saw his B200 launched over the right rear wheel of the Jordan, despite Trulli providing room for the Benetton to pass.

Although Trulli was unscathed, and managed to return to the pits under his own steam, his proximity to Fisichella's car in the incident was shown by the amount of damage inflicted on the EJ10's engine cover and roll-hoop camera mounting. In addition, the Jordan suffered a puncture and broken rear wing in the accident, while Fisichella left his car with a smashed front wing, bodywork damage, a shattered axle and cracked monocoque. It was returned to the team on the back of a tractor.

Unsurprisingly, Fisichella took no further part in the day's proceedings, and is unlikely to return to action this week as he was already due to be replaced by Alex Wurz and newcomer Antonio Pizzonia from tomorrow. He was taken to the medical centre for checks after he returned to the pits, emerging to say that he had little recollection of the incident.

''I am okay, and not even really bruised,'' he told journalists, ''I really don't remember what happened, but 'oh my God!'''

The Valencia circuit has not met with universal praise on its introduction to the F1 testing schedule. Many of the drivers to have tried it over the past day and a half - with the notable exception of Jos Verstappen - have described it as too narrow, too twisty and too slow to be enjoyable, while Jaguar tester Luciano Burti went as far as calling it a 'Mickey Mouse' layout.

Fisichella's accident also brought to bear comments made by Michael Schumacher earlier in the season, when the German expressed his fears about a car flying into the grandstand in just such an incident.