Prost Saddened by Austrian Nightmare

Team owner Alain Prost, already struggling to secure an engine for next season, had a nightmare afternoon on Sunday when his two drivers collided at the A1-Ring.

Jean Alesi and Nick Heidfeld took each other out on the 39th lap of the Austrian Grand Prix and left the four-times Formula One world champion so upset that he refused to comment afterwards.

"He (Prost) is very disappointed and sad and didn't want to speak to anyone," a team spokeswoman said.

At the French Grand Prix two weeks ago, Prost said he had given himself until the end of July to resolve his engine problems.

On Sunday, he admitted he may be seeking new investors.

"There's a good chance there will be some inverstors involved but I can't say anymore," said the Frenchman, who has won more Austrian Grands Prix -- three in total -- as a driver than any other.

The unnecessary collision was the last thing the team needed.

Alesi blamed the incident on his team's poor communication and said they should have told Heidfeld to let him through because the German had a full fuel load on board and was therefore slower.

"Nick went out just in front of me with a full tank (after the pitstop). I had the competitive car at this moment of the race so I tried to overtake him," he said.

"I was quicker than Nick at the time of the incident. We had touched each other already once. I made a sign with my hands and the lap after that we had a definitive accident."

Heidfeld was disappointed and said he had not seen Alesi, who made clear that he would seek clarification from Prost, when the French driver was chasing him into the corner.

"I was in eighth place when I made my one and only pit stop," said Heidfeld.

"Jean was very close behind me after the stop and he was a lot quicker because he was still to stop a second time."

The Peugeot-powered Prost team have yet to score a point this season -- the only team other than Minardi still in that position after 10 races.

Both the Minardis finished on Sunday.