Italy's F1 future threatened

Formula One racing in Italy could be under threat again after a marshal was killed by flying debris from a massive smash triggered by Jordan's Heinz-Harald Frentzen at yesterday's Italian Grand Prix.

The status of grand prix racing in Italy has been under threat since the death of Ayrton Senna at Imola six years ago. The Brazilian Williams driver died soon after the start of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, ploughing into the wall at the circuit's Tamburello curve. A faulty steering column was suspected and under Italian law Williams' staff could have faced jail if the fault was proved to be theirs.

A subsequent four-year investigation into the crash acquitted Williams' principal, Frank Williams, technical director Patrick Head and then design chief Adrian Newey (now at McLaren), but an appeal to a higher Italian court has been under consideration by the prosecution since.

The FIA subsequently made plain its feelings saying if the Williams team members were found guilty of any charge, future racing in Italy would have be taken under consideration given the risk of prosecution in the event of an accident.

That risk appears to have presented itself yesterday. After a clean start the 22-strong field swept into the first corner, Rettifilio, where Eddie Irvine immediately exited the race, clipped by Sauber's Mika Salo, but it was at the next chicane, the Variante della Roggia where incident turned to tragedy. As the leading pack entered the chicane, Frentzen slammed into the rear of team-mate Jarno Trulli and Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello.

The ensuing chaos also took out third-placed David Coulthard and as the debris flew, the following Pedro de la Rosa and Johnny Herbert also clashed, De la Rosa's car horrifically flipping end over the end leaving Herbert to limp back to pits on three wheels. While all five stranded drivers clambered unhurt from the mangled wreckage of their cars, beyond the barriers fire marshal Paolo Ghislimberti was lying critically injured after being stuck by a flying wheel.

Suffering from critical head and chest injuries Ghislimberti was resuscitated by a trackside medial team but died shortly after arrival at Monza hospital.

All six cars involved in the incident were immediately impounded by local police authorities as Italian law dictates and an investigation is likely to follow. Jordan, however, immediately cancelled the test they were due to undertake at Ferrari's Mugello circuit because of the impounding of their cars.

After the race a subdued Frentzen said he would accept responsibility if there was incontrovertible evidence to that effect. "It is a tragic thing that the marshal is dead," he said. "I have no problem taking the blame if the video shows that. But I have to see a video before I make an accident report. I have to say that I am not famous for being the kind of driver who causes those kind of starting accidents. Rubens braked very early and I don't know why. There was no space to avoid him and I hit him. But I was also hit from behind by some other people so I don't know. I don't know why Barrichello braked but I don't blame him. I know it's the responsibility of the guy behind."

De la Rosa admitted he could see little of the accident that preceded his own but insisted such an incident is a part of the risk of motor racing. "I've got to the second chicane and two cars in front were stopped, there was smoke and debris everywhere. I braked but I couldn't avoid one BAR I think, Zonta or someone. I got in the air and it just barrel rolled."

"But I'm still here which is the best thing. It was more spectacular looking than it actually was. Fortunately I'm here. This is motor racing, it is a dangerous sport and sometimes these things happen."