AUGUST 8, 2000

Alesi declares himself ready to race in Hungary

JEAN ALESI has declared himself ready to take part in this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix after recovering from the abdominal pains resulting from his high-speed crash in Germany two weeks ago.

JEAN ALESI has declared himself ready to take part in this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix after recovering from the abdominal pains resulting from his high-speed crash in Germany two weeks ago.

The veteran Frenchman has been resting at home for the last week and has complained of feeling unwell after the collision at Hockenheim where he spun wildly after coming together with Pedro Diniz's Sauber.

Last week, he said he did not feel himself at all and felt doubtful for the Hungaroring, but on Tuesday he gave his Prost team a welcome boost.

"I have been feeling much better over the last few days. I hope to be able to race," he said.

Alesi will not be passed fit officially until he is checked over at the circuit on Thursday afternoon by the FIA medical team led by professor Sid Watkins.

If he is not passed fit, he will be replaced by fellow-Frenchman Stephane Sarrazin who is on stand-by for the race.

Sarrazin, who has raced in Formula One before, will be in Budapest to race but he will not know until Thursday if it is to be in the Grand Prix or the F3000 support race in which he would drive for the Kid Jensen Racing team as replacement for Belgian Bas Leinder.