MARTIN BRUNDLE emerged unscathed from a horrifying crash in Melbourne yesterday - then revealed the only pain he felt was caused chasing after a doctor. Brundle's debut with the Jordan Peugeot team was just a few seconds old when his car was sent cartwheeling down the track after a multiple collision on the opening lap of the Australian Grand Prix.

The car was split in two following the 110mph accident, but the 36-year-old Formula One veteran from Norfolk's only thought was to get into the team's spare car.

"It never occurred to me not to race," he said. "That's what the other car is for. If I'd have felt dizzy I would not have driven again.

"I'd had a very good start - I must have taken five or six cars - and was in a decent space all by myself. Suddenly all the cars in front of me seemed to tangle.

"The piece of track that was clear filled with slow moving cars that were out of control. I just couldn't do anything about it.

"When I hit Johnny (Herbert) I was doing 110mph and I just went through the air. I was not too bothered about that, but then it started rolling over and went over four or five times. If I'd have landed upside down on the top of the wall then I would have been dead, anybody would have.

"I just put my head down a bit. The only thing I was bothered about when I stopped and was upside down was there was this liquid running. I thought it was fuel and wanted to get out of the car in a hurry. I don't know how I got out of the car I just did - but it was the drinks bottle."

Brundle, who was competing in; his 143rd race, was cheered by the 154,000-strong crowd, as he sought out the sport's medical chief, Sid Watkins to get the all-clear to take part in the restarted race.

"I wondered what the crowd were cheering about in the beginning," added Brundle, who twice raced down the pit-lane. "When I realised I was amazed.

"Ironically the only pain I have got is from my ankle for running to find Sid. The two medics checked me over, but they they'd been overruled and I had to find Sid.

"I can't run to save my life - it hurts my ankles. That's the first time I have run on tarmac for years. I can run in sand, but I don't even do that now."

But vastly experienced Brundle said his safety had not been put at risk, adding: "There is always a political angle to everything in this game.

"I didn't have to rely on the cockpit. It was the roll-over hoops today - I am still standing here so you would have to say it did a good job."