Friday May 5th, 2000

David Coulthard returned to the track on Friday and insisted he felt stronger than ever after recovering from his air crash ordeal.

The Scot completed 20 laps in Friday's opening practice for the Spanish Grand Prix and finished the day fifth quickest, showing no signs of nerves in his McLaren.

"I was glad to put that behind me," he said. "I didn't know how I would feel. It was a bit like waiting to have your first proper shunt in a racing car.

"I was a bit apprehensive and none of it is the sort of experience you want to go through, but I am sure that it is something that will do me good.

"I fully believe I am a much stronger person now than I was before all of this."