21/06/2004
NEWS STORY
Following his high-speed crash at Indianapolis yesterday, Ralf Schumacher will play no part in WilliamsF1's test at Jerez, however there are also doubts that he will take part in the French GP, which takes place in two weeks.
Last year the German missed the Italian GP, following a heavy crash during testing two weeks earlier, his place in the race taken by WilliamsF1 test driver Marc Gene.
Speaking in the moments following yesterday's Uniterd States GP, team boss Frank Williams, said: "He is in a lot of pain. However, everything works, but his stomach is a bit upset. He's pretty bruised but he's basically sound.
"I think he'll probably be there for several days on my interpretation of what I've heard so far," added the Englishman.
Several hours later, BMW Motorsport boss Mario Theissen, cast doubt on the German's appearance in France. "There is clearly a question mark," said the German.
"I cannot tell now what it will be but it has to be his own decision," he added. "He will stay here overnight in the hospital just as a precaution and tomorrow (Monday) he has to decide what to do."
Former WilliamsF1's head of engineering, Patrick Head, recently suggested that Ralf had never really gotten over his Monza crash, therefore, if true, it remains to be seen how the German will react to yesterday'sd accident, which in many ways was worse.
According to reports in the German media, one week after the French GP at Silverstone, Schumacher is due to be revealed as Toyota's signing for 2005 in a $100m deal.