NOVEMBER 30, 2000

Fisichella faces the prospect of surgery

BENETTON driver Giancarlo Fisichella will learn in the next two weeks if he will miss pre-season testing with a knee injury.

Italian Fisichella is currently undergoing physiotherapy on his right knee in Rome but could need "surgical intervention" to cure the problem which originates in his knee-cap.

The 27-year-old will discover whether surgery will be required to heal the injury, which also affected his former team-mate Austrian Alexander Wurz on December 11 and the operation will take place 12 days later if required.

"Giancarlo is currently undergoing physiotherapy on his knee in Rome," a Benetton spokesperson said. "He will know if he needs surgery on December 11.

"There is a possibility he will need surgical intervention to cure it and if it does need an operation it will happen on December 23 but the doctor will be the judge of that."

If Fisichella is forced to have surgery he will miss testing throughout January but Benetton have said he will be ready for the start of the season in March.

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