Button testing crash update

B*A*R DRIVER BUTTON UNHURT AFTER HIGH-SPEED TEST CRASH

Lucky Strike B*A*R Honda's Jenson Button suffered an accident while testing in Jerez, Spain, this morning. The 23-year-old put a wheel on the grass and his car went off the track at 270kph, at the exit of the high-speed turn four. There are no tyres at this section of the track and his car hit the barrier, damaging the suspension and the left-hand side of the car.

The accident happened just after 10.30CET whilst Jenson was on his 13th lap of the circuit. Although most of the damaged parts are easily replaced, there has been some localised damage to the chassis which will necessitate it being returned to the team's UK Operations Centre for repair.

The safety structures in place did the job very well as Jenson was unhurt in the accident, however he did bang his right knee quite hard. He will return to London this afternoon where he will visit his own doctor as a precautionary measure.

Following the accident, Jenson said; "I was coming through turn four, which is quite a quick corner, and I put a wheel on the grass which caused the car to immediately snap out of control. I went into the Armco barrier on the left-hand side which caused quite a lot of damage to the car. As it cannot be quickly repaired, I am unable to complete my final day of testing here."

"I have minor bruising to the inside of the knee and I think it is best to rest it, but I have already had it checked and everything is fine. It's a disappointing way to end the test but I am really looking forward to Indianapolis and I will be going back to the UK to prepare to fly out at the weekend."

B*A*R will complete today and tomorrow's testing with one car, driven by Jacques Villeneuve. Due to this setback in the team's programme, B*A*R has decided to defer Bjorn Wirdheim's test until October.

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