Ralf okay after huge shunt

Schumacher crashed out on the banking at the final corner of the Indianapolis road circuit, hitting the wall at high speed backwards. He tried to get out of the car, but was unable to do so unaided. He stayed in the car for 10 minutes before being placed in a neck brace and a surgical stretcher by medical staff led by Professor Sid Watkins.

A Williams source said: "Ralf is at the medical centre, he is conscious but bruised. He will be transferred to a downtown hospital in Indianapolis for a full examination as a precautionary measure."

Team principal Frank Williams said: "He's in hospital and is in a lot of pain. Everything works, but his stomach's a bit upset. He's pretty bruised but he's basically sound. I think he'll probably be there [in hospital] for several days. I don't think the tyre deflated before the accident from the data on the car, but this [the cause] isn't clear yet."

Technical director Sam Michael added: "It was not a mistake; certainly not a driving error. We'll have a look at the rear suspension and wing."

Schumacher suffered a concussion in testing before last year's Italian Grand Prix at Monza, forcing him to miss the race. He now has two weeks recovery time before the French GP at Magny-Cours on July 4.