In one of the wildest and most chaotic Formula One qualifying sessions in recent memory, Ferrari driver Felipe Massa was struck in the helmet by a flying piece of debris and then he crashed hard into the tire wall. Massa was seen waving to the crowd afterwards, but he was seriously injured and is officially out of Sunday's race. Meanwhile, almost overshadowed by everyone's concern for the popular Brazilian driver Massa, Renault's Fernando Alonso grabbed his first pole of the 2009 season, just fractions of a second ahead of Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel. Mark Webber, also with Red Bull, will start from the 3rd spot. Adding to the incredible chaos, towards the end of the 3rd knockout session of qualifying, all official timing mysteriously failed, leaving everyone involved, drivers, teams, F1 officials, the Speed TV announcers and fans, in a guessing game trying to figure out who exactly would be sitting on pole.
The Massa accident happens in the wake of the tragic fatal incident last week, when 18 year old F2 driver Henry Surtees was killed by a flying wheel that also struck the driver in the helmet. Naturally, the main concern at the track for everyone involved is the condition of Felipe, who apparently was temporarily knocked unconscious by debris that flew off the Brawn race car driven by fellow Brazilian Rubens Barrichello.
Rubens was very concerned with Massa's condition after the race, "He was very agitated," said Barrichello according to a quote obtained by Britain's Daily Telegraph. "He had a cut in his head, which could have been from the part of my car that was on the track. He was talking, was conscious, but they have to analyze the cut (in hospital). He was moving his arms and legs, they had to make him sleep because he was agitated..."
The Massa incident occurred during the end of the second knockout qualifying session. Speed TV had a very scary replay that was even scarier when shown in super slow motion. Felipe was approaching the notorious 4th turn at the Hungaroring, when the piece of debris, which appeared to be a large metal suspension spring, flew up off the track, striking Massa in the helmet. The Ferrari driver was thought to be temporarily knocked out, as his car then careened off track. Luckily only seconds later, Felipe appeared to regain consciousness, as he applied the brakes to the car, slowing the car down somewhat before the Ferrari struck the tire barriers at high speed.
One shudders to think what may have happened if Massa was not able to recover enough to use the brakes. According to reports from after the qualifying session, the cut on his face was near Massa's eye, and that area on his face was noticeably swollen. But the good news is reports from the hospital indicate Felipe is stable, however, it has been confirmed by the Ferrari team that he will not be racing in Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix.
As if the wild scene surrounding Massa's accident was not dramatic enough, as the final knockout session expired, so did all the official timing, leaving a wild scene in the pits, with drivers exchanging their times among each other, trying to determine who had the best time! Alonso seemed pretty confident that he had the pole, as he pulled right into the pole winner's parking space, and then ran around asking all the other drivers, including this year's points leader, Jenson Button, Red Bull drivers Vettel and Webber, Lewis Hamilton and even Bernie Ecclestone, asking them all what they thought the various team's timings showed!
Eventually, it was determined that Fernando did indeed secure the surprise pole, with the two Red Bulls close behind. Lurking just behind the Red Bulls in the 4th spot is the KERS enabled McLaren of Lewis Hamilton, who landed his best grid position of the year. Williams driver Nico Rosberg also has his best grid start of the year in 5th, as does Hamilton team mate Heikki Kovalainen in the 6th spot.
Meanwhile, both Brawn cars continue to struggle, with Jenson Button managing 8th and Barrichello way back in 13th.
Massa's Ferrari team mate Kimi Raikkonen will start in 7th, ahead of Button. Williams driver Kaz Nakajima rounds out the top 9.
With a huge sigh of relief that Felipe is OK, there is the absolutely chilling realization that this incident comes just on the heels of the Henry Surtees tragedy. Another reminder of the inherent dangers of open wheel motorsports, despite all the safety built in to today's race cars, the driver's head is still exposed to the dangers of flying debris or even a flying race car itself. But with Massa considered safe for the moment, thoughts turn to what will unfold in Sunday's race. Once again, the start will be crucial, without doubt, Alonso, Vettel and Webber will have one eye in their mirrors looking for the 2 KERS McLaren slingshots driven by Hamilton and Kovalainen. If the leaders can hold them off, especially by the first turn and for the rest of the first lap or two, the Renault and the Red Bulls should consider a podium finish very likely. If not, McLaren may be able to unveil yet another surprise in Hungary. Lewis should be considered the bigger threat of the two, he is known for his daring starts, and his car is only 2/10's behind Fernando.
This race will be a blast to watch, plenty of drama on tap for Sunday, I cannot wait to watch this one!
UPDATE 7/29/09 2:29 PM: AP Report- Massa has successful surgery on fractured skull:
Felipe Massa completed successful surgery after fracturing his skull in a high-speed crash Saturday at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The Italian team says the 28-year-old Brazilian driver will remain in intensive care, although it does not know how long he will stay under observation. He was conscious and in stable condition when he arrived at AEK hospital by helicopter with a concussion.....
Starting Grid for the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix:
1. Fernando Alonso Spain Renault-Renault 1:21.569
2. Sebastian Vettel Germany Red Bull-Renault 1:21.607
3. Mark Webber Australia Red Bull-Renault 1:21.74
4. Lewis Hamilton Britain McLaren-Mercedes 1:21.839
5. Nico Rosberg Germany Williams-Toyota 1:21.890
6. Heikki Kovalainen Finland McLaren-Mercedes 1:22.095
7. Kimi Raikkonen Finland Ferrari-Ferrari 1:22.468
8. Jenson Button Britain Brawn-Mercedes 1:22.511
9. Kazuki Nakajima Japan Williams-Toyota 1:22.835
10. Felipe Massa Brazil Ferrari-Ferrari no time Q3
11. Sebastien Buemi Switzerland Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:21.002s
12. Jarno Trulli Italy Toyota-Toyota 1m 21.082
13. Rubens Barrichello Brazil Brawn-Mercedes 1:21.222
14. Timo Glock Germany Toyota-Toyota 1m 21.242s
15 Nelson Piquet Jr Brazil Renault-Renault 1:21.389
16. Nick Heidfeld Germany BMW Sauber 1:21.738
17. Giancarlo Fisichella Italy Force India-Mercedes 1:21.807
18. Adrian Sutil Germany Force India-Mercedes 1:21.868
19. Robert Kubica Poland BMW Sauber 1:21.901
20. Jaime Alguersuari Spain Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:22.359
File photo of Fernando Alonso (2009)
Hungaroring
Renault driver Fernando Alonso takes pole in a qualification session on Saturday for tomorrow's 2009 ING Magyar Nagydij at Hungaroring, Budapest, Hungary.

Two Red Bull cars also with Renault engines are right on the back of the Spaniard.

McLaren-Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen are split by Nico Rosberg's Williams 5th on the starting grid.

Kimi Raikkonen qualified 7th for Ferrari.

Felipe Massa (2008) 
His teammate Felipe Massa was taken out of the track by a medical helicopter after a violent crash straight into the wall of tyres. A Ferrari spokesman says Brazilian driver "will remain in intensive care, although the team does not know how long he will stay under observation. He was conscious and in stable condition when he arrived at AEK hospital by helicopter with a concussion." Later Massa underwent a successful surgery on fractured skull. It was said Massa was knocked unconscious after debris striked his helmet.

On Sunday July 19, Formula Two driver Henry Surtees, 18 year old son of 1964 Formula One champion John Surtees, died in hospital after suffering severe head injuries. During the race at Brands Hatch Jack Clarke crashed his car into the wall and sent one of its wheels across the circuit. The wheel impacted precisely with the head of Surtees.

The F1 rookie driver Jaime Alguersuari, who was a team-mate of Surtees at the British F3 season finale at Donington Park last year, and now will drive a Toro Rosso in a race for the first time, wrote the words of tribute to his friend saying "Ciao Henry" on his helmet.

Championship leader Jenson Button will start from 8th place for Brawn; his worst qualifying of the 2009 season.