Miracle escape for drivers

Burti crashes at the start of the German Grand Prix

Click here for pictures of the crash

Drivers emerged unhurt from a spectacular crash involving world champion Michael Schumacher at the start of the German Grand Prix.

Luciano Burti and Enrique Bernoldi were lucky not to be seriously injured in the drama watched by a crowd of 100,000 at Hockenheim on Sunday.

At his home circuit, Schumacher began at a snail's pace when the traction control on his Ferrari failed to work.

Most of the field managed to steer round the 32-year-old German.

But Burti's car careered into the back of Schumacher, and the Prost car somersaulted into the air before landing upside down on Bernoldi's Arrows vehicle.

Restart

Burti's car bounced onto the track, skidded across the circuit at the first corner, over the gravel and into the tyre wall.

The Brazilian walked away unhurt, to be met by Schumacher offering his apologies.

As the debris was cleared, a re-start was announced with the original field lining up.

Schumacher and Burti switched to spare cars for the restart.

Soon after the second start, there was more drama when Jaguar's Pedro de la Rosa and Nick Heidfeld, for Sauber, were forced out when the Spaniard misjudged his braking into the first chicane.