Jordan Waiting on Fisichella Clearance

Jordan are lining up possible replacements for injured driver Giancarlo Fisichella after being forced to wait until Thursday before finding out if the Italian will be given clearance to race.

Fisichella crashed in practice at last weekend's French Grand Prix and suffered a huge 34G deceleration force as his Jordan slowed almost instantaneously from 220 km/h to zero when it hit the tyre barriers.

Fisichella is keen to return to the cockpit, despite suffering bruises and a cut left hand in the crash, but he will only be able to do so if FIA medical delegate Sid Watkins gives him the all-clear.

"It's not his or the team's decision," said spokesperson Helen Temple when asked if the driver would return at Hockenheim this weekend. "Giancarlo is feeling quite a bit better but it is up to Sid and we won't know until Thursday at the track."

The team are in discussion with "several" drivers, who will have to visit the Jordan factory in Silverstone early this week for a rapid seat-fitting to reduce pressure on the mechanics at Hockenheim if Fisichella is ruled out.

The team tried to replace Fisichella with former Jordan driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen when he failed to qualify for his current team, Arrows, but his lawyer prevented him from making a return because of concerns over contractual difficulties.

"I am sure Eddie has several people in mind," said Temple. "It just depends who is competent and who is available, but really we are just hoping it won't be necessary."

Briton Justin Wilson, last year's Formula 3000 champion, was close to securing a race drive with the team after a test at the end of last year. But he is not thought to be in contention for the drive if it becomes available.

A source close to the team revealed that it is "unlikely" because of his tall height, adding: "He hasn't driven an EJ12 and I am not sure, technically, whether he would be able to fit into it."