Heinz Harald Frentzen scored Jordan's first points of the new Formula One season at yesterday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix. But the sport was again marred by tragedy, as a marshal was killed for the second time in five races.
As Michael Schumacher began to draw away into a lead that would remain unchallenged until he took the chequered flag to seal his 45th grand prix win, Formula One was once again courting tragic controversy. On lap five, the as yet unnamed marshal was struck and fatally injured, apparently by a wheel torn from the BAR of Jacques Villenueve in an horrific crash which saw his car become airborne and plough into circuit fencing after smashing into the back of Williams' Ralf Schumacher.
Villeneuve escaped unhurt from his shattered car, but an ambulance had been called to attend to the 50-year-old marshal from Queensland who died shortly after being attended to by emergency services.
Eleven spectators were also hurt as debris from Villeneuve's spiralling car rained down. An investigation was immediately launched by the FIA and the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport.
If it is found that a flying wheel was the cause of death, it is the second time in five races that a marshal has been killed in such a manner. Last September, Italian marshal Paolo Ghislimberti was killed by a flying wheel from the Arrows of Pedro De la Rosa.
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