Karthikeyan shunt raises questions.

Narain Karthikeyan walked away, apparently unhurt, from a big crash that precipitated the second safety car appearance during the Chinese Grand Prix, but concerns were raised over the length of time it took anyone to reach the scene of the accident.

The Indian, who was given the all-clear by the circuit medical centre spun heading onto the back straight at the Shanghai International Circuit, collecting the tyre wall heavily before spinning to a halt on the opposite side of the road. Several cars, notably Jacques' Villeneuve's Sauber were fortunate to make it through the wreckage, but the damage was such that the safety car needed to be called to cover the clear-up operation.

The rookie blamed cold tyres, sustained under the first safety car period, and the resulting understeer they provoked for forcing him wider than wanted at the fast right-hander leading on to the straight, and the artificial grass for accelerating his trajectory as he went off.

Karthikeyan extricated himself from the remains of the Jordan and jogged across the road to the nearest marshal post - but no-one had reached him or the car before that point. Although the marshals subsequently cleared the wrecked car away, questions were already being asked as to what implication there could have been had the driver been more seriously injured.

"The safety car came out for what was a long time, which caused my tyres to lose temperature and pressure," Karthikeyan reported later, "A lot of drivers were making mistakes trying to warm up their tyres but, when the race started again, I had a good first lap and passed Sato and was following Trulli. Coming to turn 13, I do not know what happened, but the car was on the artificial grass and it sucked me into the wall.

"It was a very big accident, but I am happy to say that it could have been worse. I have a bit of a sore neck but, apart from that, I am okay."