LONDON, 15 September 2004 — Germany’s Ralf Schumacher reported no pain yesterday as he stepped back into a Formula One car for the first time since a big accident in June. “I have no back pain any more, everything’s gone well,” said the 29-year-old Williams driver after his first few laps on a showery morning at the Silverstone circuit. “I want to be back for the race in Shanghai.”
Schumacher, younger brother of Ferrari’s seven-times world champion Michael, has missed the last six races after suffering two spinal fractures when he spun into a concrete wall at the US Grand Prix in Indianapolis on June 20.
The next race is the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on Sept. 26.
Williams technical director Sam Michael said at last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix that the team had missed Ralf and looked forward to having him back as they battle McLaren for fourth place in the championship.
Ralf, who is joining Toyota at the end of the season, was passed fit by doctors before the Monza race but prevented from driving because insurers insisted on him seeing out the full 12 weeks recovery time.
F3000 Boss Horner Looking
to Take Over F1 Team
Formula 3000 boss Christian Horner says he is looking to buy a Formula One team rather than trying to bring his own into the sport as previously planned.
“My intention is clearly to move forward into Formula One and that route now has to be through an existing team,” Horner, who runs the championship-winning Arden operation in the supporting series, said yesterday.
British newspapers suggested that Silverstone-based Jordan was the most likely target after reported negotiations at last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix. Horner, however, would not say which teams he might be talking to, and there was no comment from Jordan.
The team, founded by Irish entrepreneur Eddie Jordan in 1991, are struggling to keep up with the car giants that now dominate the sport and have been linked to various would-be purchasers, including a recent Dubai initiative.
Horner, whose Arden team is based not far from Jordan’s factory, said in April that he hoped to bring his own team into Formula One as early as next season if new regulations and cost-cutting changes were agreed.
