Massa back on track in Hungary

Posted at 12:00am on 30 July 2010

BUDAPEST, July 30 (Reuters) - Ferrari's Felipe Massa was back on track at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Friday for the first time since he suffered near-fatal head injuries in an accident there a year ago.

The Brazilian set the first timed lap of the opening practice session for Sunday's race on a sunny morning at the Hungaroring.

Massa missed last year's race after being hit on the helmet during qualifying by a bouncing spring that had broken loose from compatriot Rubens Barrichello's Brawn.

He spent several days in an induced coma and missed the rest of the season.

Massa visited the circuit medical centre on Thursday to thank the staff who extracted him from the car and tended to him.

"I don't remember a single thing from the accident. I don't remember the corner," he said on Thursday.

"I saw it many times, but I don't remember anything, so when you close the visor, you don't think about these things, you just think about doing your best and working and achieving the maximum you can." (Reporting by Alan Baldwin; Editing by John O'Brien; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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