Tyre questioned in Alboreto accident.

While the grand prix world mourned the death of Michele Alboreto, speculation as to the cause of his death continued.

Alboreto was killed on Wednesday in a testing accident at the Lausiztring in Germany while testing an Audi in readiness for June's Le Mans 24 Hours. Although no specific reasons have yet been given for the accident, observers who have watched film coverage of the test believe that a tyre was possibly to blame. Claims that one of R8's rear tyres was seen 'to be in shreds' point to a potential puncture, which could have caused the car to veer off the straight before barrel-rolling. Apart from the cockpit area, and damage to the roll-over bar, damage was fairly light, given the high speed nature of the accident.

Alboreto, who had was so inspired by the driving of Ronnie Peterson that he copied his helmet design, was buried in a heavily-attended service in Italy today. Among the mourners was Ferrari's Luca di Montzemolo and members of Audi's board of directors as well as the race team. Alboreto leaves his wife Nadia and his two daughters.