Webber Relieved at Lucky Escape

Australian Mark Webber admitted his crash in Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix was the "biggest hit" of his career â€" even though he miraculously walked away unscathed.

Webber smashed into the tyre barriers as he headed onto the start-finish straight. The impact ripped off three of the wheels on his car - but he walked away and did not even have to go to the circuit medical centre.

"I'd say that was the biggest," he told Atlas F1 when asked about the impact. "I've had a couple of big ones in the past, but in terms of impact that was probably the hardest. I didn't have to see anyone about it and I am fine now.

"I am a little bit stiff and it was a bit of a sad end, but it is good to be disappointed about the race result rather than worrying about your health."

Webber, who famously walked away after flipping his Mercedes Le Mans car in practice for the 24-Hours race in 1999, climbed out of his stricken Jaguar unscathed and admitted he did not know how it had happened.

He was lucky to escape injury at Interlagos after his Jaguar impacted the barriers at almost full speed on the exit of the final corner but watched on as Fernando Alonso hit his tyre and speared off into the wall moments later.

Webber was baffled by the crash after the race, but admitted: "I was on wets but they were virtually slicks by that time in the race because there was no tread left. It was slippery and it just caught me out.

"It just showed how impressive the safety systems are on the car for me to be able to just walk away from an impact as big as that. Thankfully I'm okay and now it off to prepare for San Marino."

Six drivers, including Ferrari-driving World Champion Michael Schumacher, spun out of the race on turn three, while Jordan driver Ralph Firman crashed into Olivier Panis on the main straight when his suspension failed.

Just ten of the 20 drivers completed the shortened race, which was stopped after Alonso's crash and Webber was lucky to recover from a high speed spin in turn three before his crash on the start-finish straight.