Barrichello engine undamaged after Spa fire

(GMM) Rubens Barrichello on Friday said his engine escaped unscathed despite its heavy smoking and fire at the end of last Sunday's Belgian grand prix.

The Brazilian's Mercedes V8 was emitting grey smoke in the final laps at Spa-Francorchamps, and after hanging on for seventh place the rear of the Brawn car caught fire on the way into parc ferme.

Brackley based Brawn immediately diagnosed an oil leak rather than a terminal engine problem, and Barrichello revealed on Friday that subsequent tests showed no lasting damage to the engine.

"The team told me that my engine is fine after the fire," he wrote on his Twitter page. "The gearbox seems ok but only after Saturday practice (in Monza) we will know more," the 37-year-old added.

Barrichello also said the engine used at Spa was his sixth out of his allocated eight for the season, but "all my others" raced previously this year "can still be used".