Renault: Button will be Fine for Indianapolis

Briton Jenson Button is in no danger of missing next week's United States Grand Prix, after suffering from dizzy spells in Formula One testing, his Renault team said on Friday.

Technical director Mike Gascoyne told BBC radio that both Button and Spanish test driver Fernando Alonso, who replaces the Englishman at the team next year, had been struck by an ear infection. The condition led to Button pulling out of the final test session of the season at Silverstone last Wednesday.

"Fernando suffered it as well. It's an ear infection, an inner ear infection, which obviously affects their balance and makes them feel dizzy if their head goes down," said Gascoyne. "Whether they picked something up in the hotel we don't know. It's nothing major, a course of antibiotics will sort it out.

"But obviously when you drive a Formula One car you hit the brakes, your head goes forward, that's not the point that you want to feel a little bit dizzy. So the best thing is he (Button) rests and makes himself fully fit for the weekend."

Gascoyne said Button was sure to be racing at the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis next weekend. "Absolutely. He was just feeling a little bit uncomfortable, we put him on a course of antibiotics, the doctor saw him and not a problem at all," he said.

Button finished fifth in last weekend's Italian Grand Prix, behind Italian teammate Jarno Trulli, and has scored 13 of Renault's 20 points this season. He is joining British American Racing in 2003.