Stepney survives pit tumble.

Ferrari engineer Nigel Stepney was able to laugh about his pit-lane accident last night, but knows that he came close to serious injury.

The Briton, who operates the refuelling hose for the Italian team, was bowled over by Michael Schumacher's rear wheel after a misunderstanding with the lollipop man at the front of the car. The signaller thought that Stepney had disengaged the hose, and waved Schumacher out of his pit, only to discover that Stepney was still attached to the car.

As Schumacher accelerated down the pit-lane, Stepney was pulled off his feet and thrown under the Ferrari's rear wheel, and had to be helped away in obvious pain.

A trip to the Circuit de Catalunya medical centre, however, revealed nothing more than a severely twisted ankle, leaving Stepney to count his blessings and contemplate time off work.

''It all happened so quickly,'' he said, ''but, thankfully, nothing is broken. There is nothing we can do about what's happened, except learn for the future.

''As for me, I'll just have to take a week's holiday!''

The incident ultimately cost Schumacher his lead in the event as, on his second stop, the replacement refueller could not get the hose seated properly. losing the German ten seconds. Schumacher eventually finished fifth after tyre problems.