Badoer and Trulli escape shunts

The Italian's F2004 speared off the track at the Dry Sac corner at the end of the back straight. Eyewitness reports suggest it hit the barriers headfirst and then dug itself under the tyre wall. Badoer was able to climb out of the car unaided but he was taken to the circuit's medical centre complaining of back pains.

The damage to the Ferrari was pretty major, although the monocoque escaped damage. The team is hoping to get the car fixed for Wednesday and it is hoped that Badoer can resume his testing duties.

Badoer was not the only driver in the wars with Jarno Trulli having a baptism of fire in his first major test with Toyota after crashing off with a suspected left-rear tyre failure. Initial inspection of the damage appears to point to a stone getting lodged in the tyre and causing a puncture. His car only suffered minor damage and resume testing just after lunch time.

Formula 1 teams are drafting in a raft of young and new faces for the test, with their regular drivers staying out in Asia between the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix. Unfamiliar faces appearing at the test include Heikki Kovalainen in the Renault, Enrique Bernoldi in the BAR and Olivier Beretta in the Williams.