F1 Racing Driver Massa Improving After Injury; Debris Incidents Called "Very Disturbing"

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Ferrari's Felipe Massa, seriously injured Saturday by flying debris in an incident during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, continued to improve in AEK Hospital, according to reports this morning.

Massa, 28, suffered skull fractures when he was struck by a spring from the Brawn GP car of fellow Brazilian Rubens Barrichello after Barrichello crashed at the Hungaroring circuit. He underwent surgery and was said to be regaining consciousness after a "positive outcome" from a CT scan today.

Australian driver Mark Webber called the incident "terrifically freakish," but it is the second incident in less than a week in which an open-cockpit driver has been struck by debris. Eighteen-year-old Henry Surtees, son of F1 great John Surtees, died on July 19 after he was struck by a wheel and tire that came off another driver's car in an F2 race at Brands Hatch Circuit near London.

Also, the Renault team was suspended after pole winner Fernando Alonso's car lost a wheel after leaving the pits during Sunday's race, which was won by reigning F1 champion Lewis Hamilton in a McLaren-Mercedes.

Bernie Ecclestone, manager of F1 commercial rights, described the incidents as "disturbing" and is calling for an investigation.

F1 has not had a driver fatality since 1994, when Ayrton Senna was killed at Imola, Italy. The legendary Brazilian driver, a hero of Massa's, died after his helmet was pierced by debris.

"I thought we had seen an end to all this sort of thing," Ecclestone said. "It's mad. This is just a few days after one death and it is very disturbing."

Just as Surtees did last weekend, Massa appeared to lose consciousness and his car ran off course at the next corner, crashing into a barrier.

Modern racing cars are designed for safety reasons to deform on impact, but in the aftermath of two incidents in the U.S. in which crash debris caused the deaths of six spectators in the late 1990s, tethers were implemented to prevent wheels and other substantial components from becoming detached.

Nikki Lauda, who survived a horrifying, fiery crash during his F1 career, had warned in the aftermath of Surtees' death of the dangers inherent in open-cockpit racing.

Inside Line says: Better head protection for drivers is obviously needed. — David Green, Correspondent