Theissen Praises Mechanics after Montoya Crash

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya made a nightmare start to his French Grand Prix weekend when he crashed his Williams in Friday's rain-hit first practice.

Montoya, hoping for a strong result at Magny-Cours after suffering two disqualifications in a row, skidded at turn six before he had completed a timed lap on a track made slippery by a sudden downpour.

The Colombian was unhurt but the car, which bounced and flew across the gravel before slamming into a tyre wall, was shattered by the impact and needed extensive repairs before the afternoon session.

"A big compliment to the mechanics," said BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen. "They fixed the car in two and a half hours and did a great job. He can drive with his normal car and no engine change was necessary."

The team said Montoya, disqualified in Canada for using oversized brake ducts and in the United States for an infringement involving the spare car, appeared to have been going simply too fast.