Massa survives big crash

World championship leader Felipe Massa survived a terrifying crash in the first free practice session for the British GP at Silverstone.

The Brazilian slammed into the barriers at the right-hand Stowe corner after spinning at 130mph on oil laid down by Renault driver Fernando Alonso.

The Ferrari man hit the tyre wall rear-first at the same corner where Michael Schumacher broke his leg in 1999, but emerged unscathed and immediately chatted with Alonso at the side of the track.

The red flags came out as marshals removed the wreckage and cleared oil from the track in an 18 minute stoppage.

Alonso had pulled up at the same corner only minutes previously, with a plume of smoke billowing from the engine of his Renault.

Massa, winner of three races so far this season, had earlier set the fastest time of the session, clocking 1:19.575 - well inside Lewis Hamilton's pole position time from last year.

However, he is likely to miss the afternoon session after sustaining extensive damage to the rear and right side of his car.

A large crowd turned out to see home favourite Hamilton, who went third fastest for McLaren, while David Coulthard embarked on his final British GP weekend after announcing his retirement at the end of the season.

Massa leads BMW-Sauber's Robert Kubica by two points after eight races, with Ferrari's world champion Kimi Raikkonen in third place a further three behind.

Source : uk.eurosport.yahoo.com