Ill Buemi sits out Adria debut

(GMM) Sebastien Buemi had to sit out Tuesday's closed-door shakedown debut of the 2009 Toro Rosso car.

At the Adria circuit in Italy, his French teammate Sebastien Bourdais was instead at the wheel of the Ferrari-powered STR4.

The Swiss newspaper Blick said rookie Buemi, 20, will take over on Wednesday. "It's because I have the flu," he is quoted as saying.

Swiss Buemi also gave a predictable preview of the Adrian Newey-designed car. "It's like the Red Bull, only in our colors!" he said.