Back pains stop Heidfeld testing.

Williams are insisting that Nick Heidfeld will be fine to race at the San Marino Grand Prix next weekend, despite the fact the German was forced to abandon his second day of testing at Paul Ricard yesterday [Thursday] after only 7 laps.

The German, who suffered back pains, has now returned home for some physiotherapy.

"We have no concerns whatsoever," a spokesperson for the team told Reuters, when asked if he would be fit to race at the next event.

"It's fairly minor.

"He had a back twinge early in the day, felt uncomfortable after a few laps and got out of the car."

In the seemingly unlikely event then that Heidfeld does prove to be unfit for the Imola race, then Antonio Pizzonia could be drafted in to replace him, as the teams' official third driver.