Frentzen Could Miss US GP due to Compromise

German Heinz-Harald Frentzen may miss out on next weekend's United States Grand Prix because his Sauber team were forced to compromise his seating position in Thursday's test at Silverstone.

Sauber are yet to make a decision on whether to replace young Brazilian Felipe Massa with the more experienced Frentzen even though the German showed impressive pace on his return.

The Sauber car is designed for Massa and German teammate Nick Heidfeld, who both measure around 1.65 metres in height. Frentzen is 13cm taller, and the team struggled to fit him into the car.

There are concerns that he may not be comfortable for a full race distance and his manager Monte Field said: "Sauber said it was a compromise and that is what Heinz-Harald told me too. It was not ideal. It did not affect his speed but they are having to think about it."

Massa will be forced to start ten places below his qualifying position on the grid in Indianapolis if Sauber do not replace him and they must decide whether Frentzen would be able to perform well enough to justify the decision to do so.

Frentzen crashed at the end of his test on Thursday and it is still not known whether it was due to his discomfort in the car, which may have induced cramp. A team spokesperson said: "It must have been very uncomfortable for him."

But the German star has been given a clear bill of health after visiting his personal doctor in his Monaco home for a second check up following his assessment from Silverstone's circuit doctor after the crash.

"He is fine physically," said Field. "It was a bit of a big one and we wanted to have a look with his local doctor. He is absolutely fine now but we will just wait to see what Heinz-Harald and Sauber decide between themselves."

Field said that he did not know whether Frentzen would compete in the Japanese Grand Prix if he raced at Indianapolis because it is understood that Massa's penalty would be scrapped even if he does not race in the United States.