Wurz Wrecks New McLaren at Jerez

McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen set the pace on the first day of this week's testing at the Jerez circuit in Southern Spain, while the team's test driver Alexander Wurz wrecked a car after a heavy accident.

Both Raikkonen and Wurz were driving the new MP4-18 chassis, with the Finn, who lost the Championship lead at last Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix, finishing nearly a whole second ahead of Spaniard Marc Gene in the only Williams FW25 on track today in Spain.

Austrian Wurz could only complete 14 laps after crashing heavily at the exit of the Sito Pons corner. The McLaren driver lost the rear of his car and crashed sideways against the tyres barriers, his MP4-18 even catching fire, which was quickly extinguished by the marshals.

Wurz, who was taken to the circuit's medical center, emerged uninjured but for some bruising and a slight burn on his neck as a consequence of the fire.

"As a matter of course Alexander was taken to the medical centre at the circuit, but has been released and is fine, having only suffered minor bruising," said a McLaren spokeswoman after the crash.

"Initial feedback suggests that the accident was not due to mechanical failure. The MP4-18A that Alexander was driving has been severely damaged, however this will not affect the continuing development of MP4-18A or its subsequent race introduction."

Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa was also in action at Jerez for the McLaren team, the test driver working with the old MP4-17D and posting the third fastest time ahead of Brazilian Cristiano da Matta, who was the man in charge of testing duties for the Toyota team.

Testing at Jerez continues tomorrow, when Renault will be also in action.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:19.66 63 2. Gene Williams-BMW (M) 1:20.59 68 3. de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:20.94 68 4. da Matta Toyota (M) 1:20.95 52 5. Wurz McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:21.89 14 All Timing Unofficial

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