Frentzen

LONDON -- Germany's Heinz-Harald Frentzen will replace Sauber's Felipe Massa at the U.S. Grand Prix next week to enable the Formula One team to evade a start penalty imposed on the Brazilian.

The Swiss-based team announced the substitution Friday after 35-year-old Frentzen, who had been due to replace Massa alongside Nick Heidfeld next season, tried out the C21 car for the first time Thursday.

The German crashed heavily in the test at Silverstone, needing a check-up after lapping fastest of the four drivers in action.

The decision to replace Massa came after the 21-year-old rookie was punished by race stewards at Monza for causing an avoidable collision with Jaguar's Pedro de la Rosa at the Italian Grand Prix last weekend.

Had Massa entered the Sept. 29 race, he would have been demoted 10 places on the starting grid in the first time such a sanction has been applied to a driver.

Although Frentzen, who is considerably taller than Massa, had difficulty squeezing into a car designed for smaller drivers, he said Friday that he wanted to race at Indianapolis.

"The test in Silverstone made it clear to me that the C21 is an excellent race car," he said. "I was able to familiarize myself with its handling as well as with the electronic systems. The seating position is still a compromise, and we will try to improve it further prior to the U.S. Grand Prix.

"I'm very happy that I can drive a race for Sauber at this early stage and I will give my utmost to support the team in its battle against very strong competitors."

Team principal Peter Sauber said Frentzen had made a very strong impression.

"This decision puts us in a strong position to defend our place in the constructors' championship," said Sauber, whose team is fifth and three points ahead of resurgent Jaguar.

The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) said earlier in the week that it had no problem with Frentzen replacing Massa since the penalty was against the driver and not the team.

An FIA spokesman also made clear Friday that the stewards' punishment was specifically for Indianapolis and left the Brazilian clear to race without sanction at the season-ending Japanese Grand Prix.

Frentzen started the season at struggling Arrows, after being fired by Jordan in 2001 and ending the year with now-defunct Prost.

A race winner with Williams and Jordan in the past, the German left Arrows in August after that team failed to race in France and is taking legal action against them.

The German began his career at Sauber and remains the most successful driver in the team's history with 29 points scored between 1994 and 1996.