Fisichella passed fit to face new circuit

MOTOR SPORT: Giancarlo Fisichella will race for Jordan in Sunday's German Grand Prix at the radically redesigned Hockenheim circuit having received the all clear following his accident at Magny Cours a week ago.

The Italian driver crashed heavily in Saturday morning practice at the French circuit and was taken to nearby Nevers hospital with suspected concussion and an injured hand.

Following three days' rest and a brief examination by the FIA medical delegate, Prof Sid Watkins, Fisichella was yesterday passed fit to race and will join team-mate Takuma Sato for Sunday's race.

"I'm very curious to experience the new circuit with its recent modifications and I'm very committed about this race," he said. "In Magny Cours I realised we have a good technical package with the new Honda engine specification and I'm really looking forward to trying it out this weekend."

Fisichella has a varied record at Hockenheim, finishing fourth last year, but retiring from his previous two outings at the old circuit. The new layout sees the removal of the forest sections in favour of a 17-corner circuit made up of long, fast straights leading into complexes of medium and slow corners. The aim is to provide overtaking opportunities, though in the past the notion has failed at circuits such as Indianapolis. The layout should work in Jordan's favour, however, with teams likely to adopt a cautious approach to set-up and strategy which could, if not level the playing field, at least slope it in the Irish team's favour.

Yesterday Michael Schumacher admitted the new circuit had the potential for overtaking. "I haven't been on the circuit yet to see the final solution but the general trend to have a slow corner, a long straight, a slow corner, that is something that comes from the drivers, to actually create overtaking opportunities," he said. "We see we have a sort of S-shape as a start to a long corner and I'm not sure what input this will have, whether this will increase or decrease the opportunities for overtaking, we'll have to see."

A wait-and-see tactic is also being applied to Arrows. The financially-troubled British team, which appeared to deliberately avoid qualification at Magny Cours, is likely to race here, although similar assurances were given before last weekend's race.

Lead Arrows driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen yesterday said the team was prepared to race. "I think we are ready to do this race in Hockenheim," he said. "We are going to plan everything as normal and I think we are racing here so the preparation has been good."

Frentzen's failure to qualify at Magny Cours signalled a bizarre few hours in which the German was approached by representatives of Jordan sponsor, Deutsche Post, and a deal to drive in place of Fisichella was brokered for Sunday. Agreement was obtained from the FIA but the move was scuppered when Frentzen's lawyers advised him not to race for contractual reasons to do with Arrows and because of his legal struggles with Jordan regarding the severance of his contract with the Irish team at this race last year.

Jordan's interest in Frentzen was the catalyst for a flurry of rumours that had Frentzen being re-signed by Jordan for 2003 in place of Sato. That move looks increasingly unlikely though the German's movements next year have become this weekend's hot piece of transfer speculation.

The driver's troubles at Arrows prompted speculation he would race for Toyota this weekend in place of Allan McNish. And while such an immediate association is far-fetched, a berth at Toyota could be on the cards for 2003.

Frentzen's name has popped into the driver merry-go-round frame for want of someone to talk about now the championship is decided. Jenson Button's move to BAR on Monday has removed one of the key pieces from the driver-transfer chess board.

Yesterday Sauber's Nick Heidfeld confirmed he will, in all likelihood, be staying with the Swiss outfit. McLaren are today expected to name an unchanged line-up of David Coulthard and Kimi Raikkonen for 2003, effectively closing the door on a comeback by twice world champion Mika Hakkinen. The Finn had until the end of this month to decide his future. McLaren are today expected to announce Hakkinen's retirement from the sport.

The closure of doors at McLaren, Sauber, BAR, and with no change at Ferrari, leaves little room for maneouvre. Jordan, too, have been rumoured to be on the verge of announcing an unchanged line-up of Fisichella and Sato, despite widespread belief Sato would be dropped.

Button's transfer to BAR and Fernando Alonso's confirmation as his replacement at Renault has also put Minardi's Mark Webber into the frame at Jaguar. The Australian had a positive test for the Ford-backed team and could replace Eddie Irvine as partner to Pedro De la Rosa. However, it's believed Webber is less than keen on the move given Jaguars ongoing troubles.