Published: Wednesday, October 14, 2009
F1's Massa won't race in Brazil GP as precaution
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AP Photo/Andre Penner
Ferrari Formula One driver Felipe Massa, of Brazil, sits on a kart as he trains in Sao Paulo, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009.
SAO PAULO — Formula One driver Felipe Massa says he's fit to race again but won't compete in Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix out of fear of another accident.
The Ferrari driver said on Wednesday he has fully recovered from his near-fatal crash in qualifying for the Hungarian GP in July, but won't risk another accident in the final two races of the season.
"I could easily race at Interlagos and in the last race (in Abu Dhabi)," Massa told Globo TV. "It's not the right time to return because I need to be 100 percent in case I get into another accident. I need to be 100 percent to be able to recover. That's the biggest reason I'm not returning now."
Massa drove an F1 car for the first time this week in a private test with Ferrari and said it felt like "the accident never happened."
In Hungary, Massa was knocked unconscious by a loose car part and crashed into a safety barrier, suffering multiple skull fractures. He had surgery on the area around his left eye and later had a metal plate inserted.
Massa's absence at his home race comes as a big disappointment to local fans, who last year saw him come agonizingly close to becoming the first Brazilian F1 champion since the late Ayrton Senna in 1991. Massa won the race, but Lewis Hamilton clinched the title by a single point by passing Timo Glock on the last turn of the last lap.
In 2006, Massa had already become the first Brazilian to win at home since Senna in 1993.
"It would be wonderful to make my return at Interlagos for all that has happened to me here," Massa said.
His sole duty in this year's race will be to wave the checkered flag to the winner, and he is hoping that driver will be fellow Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, who is yet to win the Brazilian GP in his 17-year career.
"I'll be cheering a lot for Rubinho," Massa said. "It's hard for him to win the title, but he needs to forget about that and try to win the race."
Barrichello trails Brawn GP teammate Jenson Button by 14 points. To lead the standings, the Brazilian needs to win the race and hope Button finishes fourth or worse.
Massa said he was not expecting difficulties in dealing with his new Ferrari teammate next year — two-time champion Fernando Alonso. But he reiterated that he believes Alonso knew Renault teammate Nelson Piquet Jr. was going to crash on purpose at the 2008 Singapore GP to help him win the race, something the Spanish driver denies.
"Without a doubt he knew it," Massa told the Terra Web site. "There is no way he couldn't know it. I'm certain."
The Ferrari driver said on Wednesday he has fully recovered from his near-fatal crash in qualifying for the Hungarian GP in July, but won't risk another accident in the final two races of the season.
"I could easily race at Interlagos and in the last race (in Abu Dhabi)," Massa told Globo TV. "It's not the right time to return because I need to be 100 percent in case I get into another accident. I need to be 100 percent to be able to recover. That's the biggest reason I'm not returning now."
Massa drove an F1 car for the first time this week in a private test with Ferrari and said it felt like "the accident never happened."
In Hungary, Massa was knocked unconscious by a loose car part and crashed into a safety barrier, suffering multiple skull fractures. He had surgery on the area around his left eye and later had a metal plate inserted.
Massa's absence at his home race comes as a big disappointment to local fans, who last year saw him come agonizingly close to becoming the first Brazilian F1 champion since the late Ayrton Senna in 1991. Massa won the race, but Lewis Hamilton clinched the title by a single point by passing Timo Glock on the last turn of the last lap.
In 2006, Massa had already become the first Brazilian to win at home since Senna in 1993.
"It would be wonderful to make my return at Interlagos for all that has happened to me here," Massa said.
His sole duty in this year's race will be to wave the checkered flag to the winner, and he is hoping that driver will be fellow Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, who is yet to win the Brazilian GP in his 17-year career.
"I'll be cheering a lot for Rubinho," Massa said. "It's hard for him to win the title, but he needs to forget about that and try to win the race."
Barrichello trails Brawn GP teammate Jenson Button by 14 points. To lead the standings, the Brazilian needs to win the race and hope Button finishes fourth or worse.
Massa said he was not expecting difficulties in dealing with his new Ferrari teammate next year — two-time champion Fernando Alonso. But he reiterated that he believes Alonso knew Renault teammate Nelson Piquet Jr. was going to crash on purpose at the 2008 Singapore GP to help him win the race, something the Spanish driver denies.
"Without a doubt he knew it," Massa told the Terra Web site. "There is no way he couldn't know it. I'm certain."
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