Diniz Unharmed In Horror Shunt.
Pedro Diniz has apparently escaped serious injury, despite rolling his Sauber at the start of the European Grand Prix.
The Brazilian was attempting to make up ground from his 13th grid position when he was clipped by the Benetton of Alex Wurz. The Austrian, in turn, was trying to avoid hitting the rear of Damon Hill's slowing Jordan, and had also to jink around the Ferraris as they found their own escape route.
Pedro Diniz has apparently escaped serious injury, despite rolling his Sauber at the start of the European Grand Prix.
The Brazilian was attempting to make up ground from his 13th grid position when he was clipped by the Benetton of Alex Wurz. The Austrian, in turn, was trying to avoid hitting the rear of Damon Hill's slowing Jordan, and had also to jink around the Ferraris as they found their own escape route.
The contact between Wurz and Diniz was enough to flip the Sauber first onto its side before sending it sliding along the track on its back. The impact between car and road was enough to break off the Sauber's roll hoop, leaving Diniz unprotected when it finally flipped over.
Despite initial fears for the Brazilian's health - and with memories of Gonzalo Rodriguez's fatal Champcar accident fresh in the mind - Diniz was seen to move inside the inverted cockpit. He was finally removed from the righted car, still in the regulation safety seat, and signalled to the crowd before being taken away in an ambulance.
A Sauber spokesman later revealed that the Brazilian had escaped serious injury, although a full report on his condition is awaited.
