Schumacher

MONZA, Italy -- Ralf Schumacher's Formula One title hopes disappeared on Saturday when the German was ruled out of Sunday's Italian Grand Prix on medical grounds following a heavy crash last week.

Williams, eight points ahead of champions Ferrari at the top of the constructors' standings, drafted in test driver Marc Gene instead and the Spaniard qualified fifth.

"Of course, it's the end of Ralf's title hopes but for the team it should be OK," BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen said.

The German was fourth overall, 14 points behind his pacesetting older brother and five-time champion Michael in a Ferrari. There are just two races remaining after Monza.

"I heard last night already that he didn't feel well and I think it is the absolute correct decision for him to do...because an accident as he has had certainly needs time to recover from," said Michael Schumacher.

"We were out for a soccer game on Thursday night and he was feeling well and you wouldn't have expected anything," added the German after qualifying on pole position.

"Going in a Formula One car is certainly another story. It is a lot higher frequency and it is a completely different effort and obviously that didn't suit him and he couldn't take that, which is very understandable."

Theissen said Ralf pulled out after reporting a headache on Saturday morning and seeing International Automobile Federation (FIA) medical delegate Sid Watkins, who told him not to drive.

Ralf took part in free practice on Friday but failed to set a time in first qualifying after missing part of the chicane.

Gene last raced for Minardi in the 2000 Malaysia Grand Prix. He scored one point in 33 races for that team.

For the first time in his career, he will start in a winning car. Colombian teammate Juan Pablo Montoya, like Ralf, has won two races this year and is chasing the title a point adrift of Schumacher.

Gene attends all the grands prix, where he acts as a team speaker at functions for guests, and filled in for Ralf at the Monza tests after the German crashed on September 2.

"I think Marc has done a lot of everything so he should be OK," Theissen said.

Ralf spent a week resting at his home near Salzburg and reported fit at Monza after passing an extensive medical in Austria on Wednesday.

Friday was his first day back in the car since his crash, however, and Monza is the fastest circuit in Formula One.

"Ralf...will now rest for a few days more to recuperate completely in order to return to the cockpit for the U.S. Grand Prix in Indianapolis in two weeks' time," Williams added in a statement.

However team boss Frank Williams said there were no guarantees that Ralf would be fit in time. "We have to live with it. Whatever happens, happens," he said.

Ralf won this year's European Grand Prix at the Nuerburgring and in France and was considered a championship favorite earlier in the year.