Ralf Voices Concern about Monza Chicane

Formula One drivers were worried about the Monza chicane before Michael Schumacher crashed his Ferrari there, the World Champion's brother Ralf was quoted as saying on Wednesday.

"We put forward some criticisms about the second chicane," the Williams driver told the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper. "I expect that there will be some alterations after Charlie Whiting's inspection."

Whiting, the International Automobile Federation (FIA)'s safety delegate and race director, will inspect the circuit before the Italian Grand Prix on September 16. Triple World Champion Schumacher, who is close to securing his fourth title and setting an all-time record for the number of race wins, ploughed into the crash barriers on Tuesday on the first day of testing at the track.

The German walked away unhurt from the high-speed impact, which ripped both front wheels off and damaged his car's chassis, and returned home to Switzerland. The chicane, the Variante della Roggia, was where local fire marshal Paolo Gislimberti was killed by flying debris at last year's Italian Grand Prix after the Jordans of Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Jarno Trulli collided.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone called last year after the fatality, for chicanes to be removed because he said they caused accidents. Drivers often ride over the kerbs to take the smoothest line through chicanes, which are designed to bring speeds down on very fast straights such as at Monza.

High kerbs before the final chicane at last month's Canadian Grand Prix were blamed for several accidents with drivers misjudging their entry. Ferrari said on Tuesday night that they feared Schumacher's crash at Monza might have been caused by his F2001 hitting the kerbs at speed.

Ralf, who was heading back to the pits and reached the scene after Michael had got out of his car and stepped into an ambulance, parked his Williams and made sure Michael was uninjured in Tuesday's incident. Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, who had not been due to test until later in the week, was drafted in and was due to take part in Wednesday's session at the circuit near Milan.