- Ferrari
Alonso came close to missing US GP with back trouble
Fernando Alonso has revealed he was "on the limit" of not travelling to the USA for last weekend's race due to problems with his back following Abu Dhabi.
Alonso suffered an impact recorded at 25G when he went over the kerbs passing Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne in Abu Dhabi. He went to hospital that evening for checks and scans and was unable to train for a week following the incident.
He said he is suffering no pain ahead of this weekend's race in Brazil, but revealed he was "on the limit" of not flying to last weekend's race in Austin.
"My back is okay now, it's 100%," he said. "The last two nights I have had zero pain and I've been able to train back in the gym and some jogging also, which after Abu Dhabi I was totally off. In Austin I was not thinking to give Pedro [de la Rosa, reserve driver] a try, because after you fly out there you want to race. When I was at home after the race [in Abu Dhabi] on the Sunday and Monday I had extra checks and I was not feeling ready to drive.
"I had a headache and I did not feel 100% and I felt I would not do a good enough job for the team and it would be better if I did not race. But slowly the inflammation was coming down and I flew to Austin to see how I was feeling there. In Austin I was more or less okay, but it was just on the limit. After Abu Dhabi if there had only been one week's distance to the next race it would not have been possible."
This weekend's race in Brazil is the last one for Felipe Massa at Ferrari before he moves to Williams and Alonso said the whole team would get behind him to help him score a good result.
"It's his last race here and hopefully he can do well in front of his home people. I'm sure Ferrari, including myself, will do 120% to help him do a good weekend. We are wishing him the best for next year, although obviously we don't want to be struggling to beat him next season!"
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