Montoya's injury has been the subject of gossip in Bahrain

The Colombian was ruled out of this weekend's Bahrain race after sustaining a hairline fracture to his shoulder.

Dennis said: "Based on similar injuries of this nature we have every belief that he will be fit to drive in Imola."

Dennis added that he "did not care" if Montoya had injured himself falling off a motocross bike, as paddock rumours in Bahrain have suggested.

"Juan Pablo told us it was a tennis (accident). If he hasn't told the truth, he hasn't told the truth.

"I don't care if he slipped in the bath and hit his head or he was jumping double-decker buses," said Dennis.

When fat people start exercising that's what happens David Coulthard

"He is free to do what he wants to do. We place no restriction on our drivers and we never have done.

"It's a hairline crack but the pain is not coming from that but from an inflammation where it had a bit of joint separation.

"It's the pain that precluded him from driving this weekend and not the hairline crack.

"The crack itself is in an area of high blood circulation, which normally means the healing process is very quick."

Montoya's injury has been the subject of much interest over the weekend in Bahrain.

He was jokingly dubbed "fatty" last season by Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, his friend and rival at Ferrari, although he has shed six kilos this year and has looked mean and lean at McLaren.

But David Coulthard, who lost his drive at McLaren to Montoya, could not resist a dig at the absent Colombian's expense.

"There are very few injuries in the paddock but, as someone else said, when fat people start exercising that's what happens."

Alonso grabs provisional pole

Montoya's replacement, McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa, did an impressive job in first qualifying on Saturday.