Pizzonia in for Heidfeld at Monza 03 Sep 2005
Williams reserve driver Antonio Pizzonia will race in this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix after Nick Heidfeld pulled out of the Monza meeting complaining of headaches. It follows a crash for the German in testing at the circuit last week.
After driving in Friday’s free practice sessions, Heidfeld experienced a strong headache and Saturday morning, together with the team, decided not to continue his on-track duties.
“I spoke with (FIA Medical Delegate) Gary Hartstein and Sid Watkins (Hartstein’s predecessor) this morning and they both recommended I did not drive,” he said.
Heidfeld crashed whilst testing in the Lesmo One corner on August 26. He will now rest for a few days to recuperate completely in order to return to the cockpit as soon as possible.
Pizzonia’s last race outing with Williams was the 2004 Italian Grand Prix, the last of four events in which he stood in for Ralf Schumacher following the German’s high-speed accident at Indianapolis.
In first practice Saturday morning, Pizzonia finished 13th. Team leader Mark Webber was seven places ahead of the Brazilian in sixth. The two are no strangers to racing alongside eachother - they were Jaguar team mates in 2003.
