Force India's Italian driver Giancarlo Fisichella crashed heavily in testing at Silverstone on Wednesday and was taken to the medical centre for precautionary tests on his wrist.

The Silverstone-based team said Fisichella went into the barriers at Becketts, one of the fastest corners of the circuit that hosts next week's British Grand Prix, in blustery conditions.

The car was extensively damaged.

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"I just got caught out by a change in grip and balance going through Becketts and went off the track," the driver said in a team statement.

"I wasn't hurt at all but I did not take my hands off the wheel and they had to do some checks to make sure my wrist was okay."

McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen was the fastest on the timesheets, with Toyota's Jarno Trulli second.

Ferrari's [Images] Formula One championship leader Felipe Massa [Images], who had been quickest on Tuesday, was seventh fastest but remained optimistic about next week's race.

"We pretty much did all of what we had set out to do and the first signs are encouraging. We are working in the right direction and I think we will also be competitive at this track," said the Brazilian.

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