Enrique Bernoldi was lucky to escape without injury after his Orange Arrows car was left a smouldering wreck and sparked an extraordinary collision during warm-up for the Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo today.
The Brazilian suddenly skidded to a halt on the Interlagos track with flames licking from the side of his car while a loose wheel was sent bouncing along the circuit.
Several cars swerved to the outside to avoid a collision as a medical car stopped in front of the wrecked Arrows which was still on fire.
But as Bernoldi undid his seatbelts and stood up in the cockpit, Sauber's Nick Heidfled saw the danger too late.
The German was forced to go down the inside of the Arrows just missing hitting the car, but he collided with an open door of the medical car before then hitting a barrier on the edge of the track.
Bernoldi would have been badly injured had he been hit by Heidfeld while he was standing up in the cockpit trying to get out of his burning car.
"He (Heidfeld) went down the inside of me and hit the medical car," said Bernoldi afterwards.
"At that point it was dangerous because I was just getting out of the car."
Heidfeld said: "I didn't see any flags and there was a Ferrari in front of me obstructing my view.
"I had nowhere to go but saw a bit of space down the inside and went there. The car is badly damaged but we will be okay for the race."
The incident happened three minutes before the end of the half hour session which was halted while the debris was cleared. Ferrari's Michael Schumacher eventually set the fastest time.
PA