Ortelli: I thought I was going to die

The Frenchman, who fractured four bones in the shunt after his Oreca Courage cart-wheeled into the barriers at the first chicane, told Italian magazine Autosprint that as soon as the car became airborne, he knew it would be a big accident.

"When the car lifted off I had expected it to do lots of rolls," he said. "Instead it carried on flying for a long time.

"I started thinking that while I was in the air I was protected by the cockpit, but at the same time the longer I was flying, the worse would the impact on the ground be, and so I thought that my life was coming to an end..."

The 1998 Le Mans winner added that he wasn't scared at any point during the accident, which was triggered when his rear-wing failed - possibly due to earlier contact - at the end of the long pitstraight just before the braking area.

"No, I wasn't scared," he said. "Some of the people that survived similar crashes said they thought about their families and that they saw their entire lives. I only thought that it was over for me, in a completely conscious way.

"I really didn't think I'd get through it, it was a miracle."

Ortelli will miss the Le Mans pre-test on June 1, but is hoping to be fit for the race two week's later.

"My right leg is still in pain because of a big hematoma and four small fractures in the malleolus, tibia, metatarsus, and hip," he said. "But there's no need for any operation: I will just have to wear the plaster for a couple more weeks.

"I must say this is fine, because I've been very, very lucky because I'm still alive."

"No, in these situations it's better to start over again," he added when asked if he wanted to take some time off. "I want to be back on the track in the first week of June to prepare for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

"I will only miss the pre-tests on June 1st, as I don't have to participate considering my previous results."