Ralf Set to Remain in Hospital for Two/Three Days

Ralf Schumacher is likely to remain in hospital for the next two or three days despite escaping serious injury after a high-speed crash in the early stages of the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis, team boss Sir Frank Williams has said.

"He is in hospital in Indianapolis but is in a lot of pain," Williams said. "Everything works but he is hurting and he will probably be in hospital for the next two or three days from what I have heard."

The Williams-BMW driver ploughed backwards into the concrete wall at the final turn of the track at more than 200mph and was knocked unconscious in the impact.

His mangled car then careered down the pit-straight for around 100 metres before coming to a halt in the middle of the track. Schumacher did not move and doctor professor Sid Watkins arrived at the scene of the crash to attend to him.

Schumacher was unable to get out of his car after suffering concussion but was eventually extracted from the cockpit and was put onto a stretcher and taken to the medical centre at the track with a neck brace on.

He was transferred to a hospital in downtown Indianapolis for a CAT scan and x-rays with early diagnosis being concussion and bruising to his back. The rescue team took 10 minutes to extract Schumacher from his stricken car as the race ran under the safety car and he was taken off to hospital very slowly in an ambulance.

Schumacher missed the Italian Grand Prix last September after suffering major concussion following a testing crash at Monza.