Carbon fiber brake dust a hazard to drivers, crews?
UPDATE F1 veteran David Coulthard has dismissed friend and former grand prix rival Mika Salo's concern about the hazard of inhaling carbon fiber brake dust. Finland's Salo said 'a lot' of the dust was found in his lungs during an operation, while the FIA will investigate potential health implications. But DC, the 34-year-old Scottish driver who also debuted in 1994, said he is 'regularly' checked by doctors. ''It has never been a problem,'' David told Autosport. ''Mika smokes as well so that may contribute (to it).'' 06/22/05 Former Formula One driver Mika Salo will be examined by the sport's governing body after his lungs were found to contain large amounts of carbon fiber dust from the cars' brakes, a Finnish newspaper said on Wednesday. The International Automobile Federation (FIA) will examine Salo, 38, to determine the possible health risks of the dust for other drivers, Finnish tabloid Ilta-Sanomat reported. "There was really a lot of that dust in my lungs. If I have this much of it, how much will Michael Schumacher, who has driven 10 years longer than me, have?" Ilta-Sanomat quoted Salo as saying. Salo drove in 111 Formula One grands prix between 1994 and 2002. Reuters