Firman to Miss Monza Test

Ralph Firman will miss this week's Monza tests to allow himself more time to recover from a big crash in Hungary 10 days ago, his Jordan team said today.

"He's not testing," a spokeswoman said, adding that Jordan still intended to run two cars at the circuit and would announce on Tuesday who will be testing Firman's car with Italian Giancarlo Fisichella.

She said Firman had a consultation in London on Monday morning and decided after that "to take a little bit more time and resume his training programme and be fit for the Grand Prix next week."

Monza hosts the Italian Grand Prix on September 14 and the tests would have given Firman valuable experience of the high-speed layout.

The Briton crashed heavily in Saturday free practice at the Hungaroring, leaving the track at an estimated 305 km/h after his rear wing sheared off, and needing a crutch to support an injured left heel when he was released from hospital on race day.

Firman, who was replaced by Hungarian Zsolt Baumgartner for that race, said in Hungary that he was raring to get back in the car at Monza, which marks the end of an August test ban, and could not remember much about the accident.

Baumgartner could be in the frame to replace Firman at the tests and has already been confirmed for a two hour test session at Monza on September 12, replacing Formula 3000 champion Bjorn Wirdheim.