Irvine to visit Burti in hospital

Jaguar driver Irvine collided with his former team-mate at 150mph as they approached the Blanchimont corner during the Belgian Grand Prix. The Brazilian then slammed head-on into the tyre wall and was lucky to escape with nothing more than bruising to the brain.

Burti partnered Irvine at Jaguar for the first four races of the 2001 season before being ousted by Pedro de la Rosa and placed with the Prost team instead. Irvine described the Brazilian as one of the nicest drivers in the sport.

"I am going to visit him tonight once I leave here," said the Irishman after the race. "It is astonishing he is okay, but I am so glad he is because he is one of the nicest guys in F1.

"I think the fact that he is alive says a lot for the chassis. He was also saved by the head restraint because the tyres were holding his head over to the left.

"He was very fortunate."

How well Burti will receive Irvine's visit remains to be seen. The Brazilian is reported to have been extremely angry with the Jaguar driver after the collision.

Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello will also visit Burti. The two Brazilians are close friends and sometime housemates.