Herbert shocked by Zanardi shunt.

Johnny Herbert has admitted to being upset by the severity of the injuries suffered by former Lotus team-mate Alex Zanardi at the German 500 CART race last weekend.

Herbert, who is touted to land a Champcar seat next season and is slated to race in the rival IRL series at Texas next month, described Zanardi's double amputation as 'gruesome', having flown to see the Italian in hospital earlier this week.

According to Herbert's personal internet site (www.johnnyherbert.co.uk), the British racer left his American base in Atlanta as soon as he could, in spite of the imposition of flight restrictions following last week's terrorist tragedies, and travelled to the Klinikum Berlin-Marzahn to visit his former team-mate. Although Zanardi was still in the controlled coma instigated by doctors to prevent the possible onset of shock-related organ failure, Herbert was able to speak to the Italian's wife Daniela, and promised to return to Germany as soon as his friend was conscious again.

"It's a big shock to everybody," the three-time grand prix winner told US television station ESPN, "You have accidents, yes, but you don't expect something this gruesome."

Herbert was joined at the hospital by several of Zanardi's other friends in racing, among them former Ganassi team-mate Jimmy Vasser, and current Mo Nunn team-mate Tony Kanaan. Alex Tagliani also appeared after being released by medical staff who treated him after the accident.

Herbert was Zanardi's partner at Lotus in the year when he suffered a massive crash at Spa-Francorchamps in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix. That incident left him with broken bones and concussion, but the Italian bounced back. Herbert has little doubt that he will do so again, albeit in a very different environment.

"He'll be up and around," he said. "He's a very doting father and he'll want to play with his son."

Zanardi's Mo Nunn team has pulled his #66 entry from the line-up for this weekend's Rockingham 500.