"You can see the drivers struggling after a few laps with the graining, especially on the soft compound, " said Giancarlo Fisichella, a 13-year F1 veteran who switched to sports-car racing in 2009.

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Unlike the drivers higher up the grid, who used Pirelli's "soft" compound tires during final qualifying, Button opted for the "medium" compound.

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To be termed a compound fracture, outside air with bacteria and debris are able to access the fracture site without skin or soft tissue serving as a barrier.

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