MARTIN BRUNDLE literally cart wheeled his way into the great safety row as his debut for Jordan turned into a "weekend from hell" at the Australian Grand Prix.

The 36 year old from Norfolk was involved in a terrifying accident yesterday, just a day after his Silverstone based team had been accused from several quarters of risking the safety of their drivers.

It was claimed Jordan, along with Williams, had broken the spirit of new regulations after lowering the level of their cockpits in a bid to enhance their cars' performance.

Both teams defended their interpretation of the new rules designed to increase safety - then saw Brundle's Jordan Peugeot split in two within seconds of the season getting under way.

The car was sent spiralling down the Albert Park track after a multiple collision - which included the McLaren of David Coulthard and Sauber of Johnny Herbert - on the opening lap.

"If I'd have landed upside down on the top of the wall then I would have been dead, anybody would have," said Brundle. "All drivers' helmets are above their cockpits.

"I didn't have to rely on the cockpit, it was the rollover hoops.

I am still standing here, so you would have to say they did a good job."

Brundle gave the 154,000 crowd the thumbs up when he realised they were cheering him as he raced along the pit lane trying to find motor sport's medical boss, Sid Watkins, to get the all clear to line up in the restart.

Meanwhile, hopes that the Australian grand prix would be a money spinner are unlikely to be met because of expenditure on security and finishing Melbourne's new Albert Park track, organisers said yesterday.

The chairman of Melbourne major events committee, Ron Walker, said the race, dramatically won by Damon Hill in a Williams Renault, would be a windfall for the Victoria state economy, but the budget was surpassed by extra spending on security and detailed work around the circuit.

"It probably won't make money, because we had to spend an enormous amount on security, and towards the end, we went the whole hog to make sure Albert Park presented itself to the rest of the world as a superb park," Walker said.

"It's unlikely that we will make a profit, it's probably unlikely that we'll break even.'

Security was drastically increased after threats from protesters and Walker said it was unfortunate the state had to go to an "unbelievable cost to protect its own property and the public."

Walker said he had been shadowed by security guards for some time.

"Even as late as Friday six bullets were delivered to my office marked to the attention of Mr Bernie Ecclestone."