Fisichella crash halts French GP practice

Italian Giancarlo Fisichella escaped serious injury after crashing heavily in Saturday's final free practice for Sunday's French Formula One Grand Prix.

The session was halted immediately.

Fisichella climbed out of his wrecked Jordan after the high-speed impact, removing a glove to inspect his left hand.

He was taken to the circuit medical centre while track workers rebuilt the tyre wall.

The crash came with 20 minutes of the session remaining after the Jordan's front wing snapped off and became wedged under the car, lifting the front wheels into the air.

Unable to steer, Fisichella plunged into the tyre barrier, ripping off the front wheels and nose cone and shattering the left side of the car.

The Roman was fortunate at least to hit the shock-absorbing tyres, with a concrete wall just metres away further down the track.

World champion Michael Schumacher was leading the timesheets while the troubled Arrows failed to appear for either of the day's sessions.

Schumacher, who can secure a record-equalling fifth championship on Sunday, lapped in one minute 12.974 seconds with Brazilian team mate Rubens Barrichello half a second slower but right behind him on the timesheets.

The German is also chasing his eighth win in 11 races this season and his sixth French Grand Prix victory.

Arrows are still locked in discussions about their future and did not run on Friday, missing opening practice for the second grand prix in a row.

Team boss Tom Walkinshaw told a news conference on Friday that Arrows would definitely run on Saturday and they will have to take part in qualifying later in the afternoon if they are to start the race.