Badoer Released From Hospital

Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer was released from hospital in Barcelona on Monday after suffering only minor injuries in a spectacular crash at the Montmelo grand prix circuit.

Badoer was conscious as he was removed from the car and taken by helicopter to the Catalan General Hospital. "Badoer was released this morning after being under observation throughout the night," a spokesman for the hospital told Reuters on Monday.

"He suffered various bruises and a small neck-vertebra injury."

Italian television said Badoer would fly home on Monday and had been advised to rest for two weeks.

Ferrari, who are due to launch their new car on January 29, took a break in testing on Monday but the team said they would resume on Tuesday when world champion Michael Schumacher is expected to be on the track.

Badoer's accident was the biggest so far in testing before the season starts in Australia on March 4.

But it came after Briton Eddie Irvine crashed his new Jaguar R2 in Valencia last Wednesday and Canadian former champion Jacques Villeneuve escaped unhurt when a suspension failure plunged his new BAR into a tyre barrier in Jerez.