Interlagos 11th April
If Australia had been promising then Brazil turned out to be a nightmare.
On Friday everything still looked OK. The track was wet but drying up and Ricardo could enjoy two more or less
trouble free practice sessions on his first drive of a GP car on home ground even if the car did not react
very well to the bumpy track.
Friday 1st practice:
13th, 1:32.509 +7.865
Friday combined practice:
14th, 1:21.009 +2.128, 28 laps
At Saturday second practice Ricardo had a huge high speed accident at the Curva da Ferradura. The left side of the car disintegrated and the carbon fibre chassis was punctured by a suspension member that severed tendons between the third and fourth toes on Zonta's left foot. Ricardo suffered the exposed fracture of three small articulations, the laceration of eight tendons and various small bone cracks.
The session was red flagged and Ricardo was immediately airlifted to hospital where he was operated by Doctor Roberto Godoy Moreira. The microscopic fragments of carbon-fiber which have contaminated Ricardo's flesh proved extremely difficult to remove and for the next two weeks Ricardo was at high risk of contracting infection.
Mika Salo replaced Ricardo for the San Marino, Monaco and Spanish GPs.
Sid Watkins:
"I think the cockpit head-and-neck protection saved his life"
Saturday practice
18th, 1:19.662 +2.627, 13 laps