McNish Withdraws from the Japanese GP

Toyota driver Allan McNish has decided not to race this afternoon at the Japanese Grand Prix due to bruising.

The Scot, who was supposed to race his final Grand Prix today for Toyota, was involved in a high-speed crash during qualifying yesterday, which saw his car pass through the armco barrier.

After taking part in today's warm up session, McNish's bruising on his right knee swelled up and he was examined by the FIA's chief medical doctor, prof. Sid Watkins, who in turn advised the Scot not to take part in the race as a precautionary measure.

"We were convinced that he was going to be able to race," said team chief Ove Andersson, "but Sid Watkins inspected him after the warm up and suggested, for safety reasons, that it was not adviseable for Allan to race.

"Allan is perfectly okay but Sid considers that if he were to be involved in something again so soon after his shunt yesterday, it could be bad. It's very sad for him and for all the fans we have here. Everybody has been building up for this final Grand Prix but you don't play with this sort of thing. If a decision is made by Sid, you have to respect it."

Andersson added that Toyota believed the Scot's crash, in which his car plunged backwards at 170mph through the barriers, was caused by driver error.