Four cars crashed when Austrian Alexander Wurz lost control of his Benetton and repeatedly rolled until he collided with Frenchman Jean Alesi.

Hakkinen: out the race

Wurz was unhurt when his car came to a stop in the gravel trap. He ran back to his team-mates to pick up the spare car for the re-start.

Italian Jarno Trulli in the Prost and Briton Johnny Herbert in a Sauber were the other drivers caught up in the accident.

After the race began again, World championship leader Mika Hakkinen slowed before retiring at the end of the opening lap.