Massa heads home to Brazil

BUDAPEST, Hungary, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Brazilian Formula One driver Felipe Massa headed to his home country Monday after being treated for crash injuries at a hospital in Budapest, Hungary.

Massa, who drives for Scuderia Ferrari, was hurt in a high-speed crash during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix. He spent nine days in the hospital recovering from a fractured skull that required emergency surgery.

He was struck by a spring that came off Rubens Barrichello's Brawn GP car. He also sustained an injury to his left eye and suffered a concussion.

"It is sort of a strange feeling," Massa said in his first public recounting of the horrific crash. "I know exactly what happened, that a spring came off Rubens' car and hit me on the helmet. I know that something happened to me, but I didn't feel anything when it happened.

"They told me that I lost consciousness at the moment of the spring's impact on my helmet and I ran into the barriers, then I woke up in hospital two days later. I don't remember anything, and that's what the doctors explained to me."

Massa says he intends to be back on the track as he makes a complete recovery.

Michael Schumacher is expected to drive for Ferrari in the European Grand Prix Aug. 23. Schumacher is a seven-time F1 champion who had retired after the 2006 season.