What is this loose metal cross-bar underneath front of my car? (99 Audi A4)

[mshan]

Today I started my car and noticed this puttering fan type of noise coming from front bottom of my car.

Nothing else seemed unusual, so I started to move car slowly and I think sound went away.

Ran a couple errands and didn't notice noise again when I restarted car.

In a parking lot, I decided to look underneath front of car and noticed that it looks like some metal cross support had driver's side screw fall out. Beam kind of looked bent, so I remembered that passenger front wheel went into pot hole while making right turn couple weeks ago and it sounded like bottom of car (I thought front bumper) might have scraped something. Now wondering if that bent that piece of metal and pulled one screw out.

What is that piece of metal, and what is it's function?

Is it something I must have repaired immediately, or something I should eventually get repaired (e. g. when getting oil change)? Or do I even need to get it repaired?

Car seems to run perfectly normal and no odd warning lights or other new sounds seemed to pop up while driving car.

Any insights would be greatly appreciated!


http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/mshan/IMG_0208.JPG

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/mshan/IMG_0211.JPG

 

[herm0016]

looks like some sort of trim or air dam. just need to get a new bolt and screw it back in.

 

[mshan]

Someone over at Audi World said it was a strip of metal that holds the belly pan in place.

He said they all eventually get torn off (I think mechanic might have taken it off when I had some work done on car last winter).

Kind of sounds like he is saying it doesn't necessarily need to be replaced, too?

edit: apparently that belly support is held in place by 4 10 mm. screws? What tool would I need to ask auto part store s
alesman for to remove it myself?

edit #2: reached underneath car and that piece of metal is securely in place with two screws into chassis. Right end free looks like it just has some clip on it that may suppose to lock into belly pan. So looks like my problem is just cosmetic,