Massa ends his Monza test in Ascari gravel

(GMM) After going quickest on Wednesday, Valencia winner Felipe Massa had an ignominious end to his test driving duties on Thursday by beaching his Ferrari in Monza's Ascari chicane gravel bed.

Mechanics quickly covered the Brazilian's machine with a red tarpaulin, and all four wheels with red plastic, as it was returned to the pitlane on the back of a truck.

Massa, 27, reportedly lost control of the F2008 in the late afternoon in excess of 250kph, for reasons not specified by the Italian team.

It was the only red flag of the day, at the end of which BMW-Sauber's Nick Heidfeld headed the field of 12 drivers representing all ten formula one teams.

The group test concludes on Friday.