Injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa received a positive medical report after visiting a specialist in racing injuries in Miami and – after minor surgery this week – expects to resume physical workouts as he takes his first step on the road back to Formula One. An accident at the Hungarian Grand Prix in July nearly cost Massa his life but the Brazilian is hoping to return for the Oct. 18 Brazilian Grand Prix. On Monday, Massa met with Steve Olvey, a former medical director for CART and a specialist in racing injuries. Neurological and vision tests came back positive, Ferrari reported on its website Tuesday, adding that Massa can resume physical workouts after minor surgery on his cranium. The procedure will be performed in the next few days followed by a brief recovery period. “I'm very happy with the outcome of the exams,” Massa said. “After the small surgery that I will have done in the next few days I can finally start working out a little in the gym to get back in form, and then I can start some kart training. “When will I be back on a Formula One track? Let's take one step at a time. Right now I'm just focused on starting physical activity again, which is already a big step forward.” Massa's Ferrari ran into a protective barrier after his helmet was struck by a loose part that broke off Rubens Barrichello's Brawn GP car and caused him to lose consciousness. He was hospitalized for nine days in Hungary and placed in an induced coma because of multiple skull fractures. Ferrari, meanwhile, said that Massa will be 100 percent ready to race again by next season. A spokesman, however, ruled out a return this year. “The checks ... all had a positive outcome, just like the eye exam: everything is in order for Felipe to get back to racing,” Ferrari said on its website. Kubica ‘in' for Monza BMW's decision to leave Formula One could open the way for Robert Kubica to replace Luca Badoer as Ferrari's second driver for the Italian Grand Prix. Ferrari's longtime test driver Badoer has qualified last and finished no better than 14th in his first two races since stepping in for the injured Felipe Massa. Anxious to get a driver that won't disappoint the home fans in Monza in less than two weeks, Kubica is increasingly looking like an option. BMW announced in July that it will leave the sport after this season and Kubica finished third at Monza in 2006 and 2008. Kubica is seeking a full-time drive for next season, and Ferrari also has Kimi Raikkonen under contract. Ferrari is expected to announce a replacement for Badoer Wednesday or Thursday. Italian driver Giancarlo Fisichella will drive for Force India in Italy next week, the Indian team's boss Vijay Mallya said, rejecting speculation he would move to Ferrari for the champions' home circuit at Monza. Force India's commercial director Ian Phillips had told Radio 5 live Monday that he expected an approach from Ferrari “in the next 24 hours or so”. However, Force India boss Vijay Mallya scotched the speculation on the team's website late Monday and said Fisichella had confirmed he would remain a Force India driver at Monza.
