Indian Karun Chandhok's first drive in the Team Lotus Formula One car lasted less than a minute before he spun on the track and crashed into a barrier on Friday.
The 27-year-old, named as a reserve driver for the team only on Tuesday, was first out of the pits in the first practice session for Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
Driving Italian Jarno Trulli's car, Chandhok lost control on a track still damp after morning rain and hit a barrier, smashing the front wing off the T128. The driver walked away apparently unhurt.
Malaysian-owned Team Lotus have yet to score a point in Formula One after making their debut last year as Lotus Racing.
Meanwhile, Narain Karthikeyan and Vitantonio Liuzzi failed to get out of the garage for the HRT team, casting further doubt on the team's ability to qualify for the race.