Coulthard crashes heavily at Spa

McLaren's David Coulthard climbed unhurt from his car after a heavy crash in Friday's opening free practice for the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix.

The Scot hit the metal barriers almost head-on after running over a kerb into gravel and then slewing across the track.

The incident, at the right-left Les Fagnes bend where cars approach a maximum 160 kph, sent the crippled McLaren skidding backwards along the barriers before coming to a halt on a damp and misty morning.

The car was heavily damaged, with the right front wheel dangling from its tethers.

Coulthard clambered out unhurt but stayed with the wrecked car for the rest of the session, having managed just three laps without setting a competitive time.

A team spokeswoman hoped the driver would be able to start the second 45 minute practice as scheduled.

Canadian Jacques Villeneuve also sat out most of the session, completing just four laps before his BAR skidded into the gravel.

Coulthard is fighting to stay second overall in a championship already won by Ferrari's Michael Schumacher.

The German, seeking a record 52nd win in Sunday's race after securing his fourth world title in Hungary this month, again topped the early timesheets ahead of Italian Jarno Trulli in a Jordan.

Trulli, whose team scored their first win here in 1998, clocked 1:49.404 ahead of Schumacher's Brazilian team mate Rubens Barrichello in 1:49.456.

Schumacher, who made his grand prix debut at Spa in 1991 and rates the fast track winding round the wooded Ardennes hillsides as his favourite, recorded a best time of one minute 48.655 seconds.

That time compared to Mika Hakkinen's 2000 pole position time of 1:50.646 and the official race lap record set by Frenchman Alain Prost in 1993 of 1:51.095.