Post by milecoupe on Apr 15, 2007 16:37:35 GMT -4
Four-time Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach winner and 2003 Champ Car World Series titlist Paul Tracy was taken to a nearby hospital after getting into an accident during today's third practice session on the streets of Long Beach street course.
Tracy crashed into the concrete barrier in Turn 1 of the 1.968-mile street course which is hosting the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach this weekend.
"I was coming off Turn 1 and got back on the throttle pretty hard and the car just snapped around," Tracy explained. "I went head on into the wall and then the car jumped up in the air and then slammed back on the ground. I could tell something was wrong right away.”
He was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital after reporting back pain. X-rays and further MRI examinations confirmed that the oldest current Champ Car driver (38-years-old) suffered a compression fracture to his first lumbar vertebrae.
He is America’s leading active open-wheel driver in terms of starts, wins and laps led.
Forsythe Championship Racing have selected Oriol Servia as Tracy’s replacement in the No. 3 Indeck Cosworth/DP01 for the rest of the weekend. Servia will take over the seat for today's final practice, second qualifying session and remain in the seat for Sunday's one hour, 45 minute event, where he will start from where he qualifies later today.
"Well this was obviously a surprise," said Servia. "Obviously everything has been very last minute. I’m still just getting up to speed and figuring out the DP01 around this track."
As a result of the switch, Tracy will head back home to rest "for a couple of days" after which he will begin developing a plan to return to action.
"Early next week we’ll start figuring out the best recovery options so I can get back in the car as soon as possible," said Tracy. "I feel OK right now after all the medication that the doctors gave me, but I’m just sore and stiff and I just need some rest."
Last season, Servia drove the No. 6 Gulfstrea/Bell Micro for PKV Racing, where he scored four top fives and eight top 10s on his way to finishing 11th in the championship standings. Although he did not find a ride for this season, he has competed in the Champ Car series the last seven seasons, winning once and scoring one pole.
However, unless Tracy returns from today's accident to a winning streak of historic proportions, this accident all but ends his championship challenge for 2007 – a fact that is not lost on the Canadian-born driver who finished third in last week's season opening Vegas Grand Prix.
"This is obviously a very unfortunate situation; it’s really a shame because it pretty much ruins the championship for us this year," said Tracy. "I’m very disappointed for the whole Team because we had gotten off to a great start in Vegas and we were pretty strong here, we were building momentum and just hoping to be fast and consistent the whole year.
"I wish Oriol the best of luck, he has a really good car and a great team behind him, and hopefully he can give the team a good result."
Tracy crashed into the concrete barrier in Turn 1 of the 1.968-mile street course which is hosting the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach this weekend.
"I was coming off Turn 1 and got back on the throttle pretty hard and the car just snapped around," Tracy explained. "I went head on into the wall and then the car jumped up in the air and then slammed back on the ground. I could tell something was wrong right away.”
He was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital after reporting back pain. X-rays and further MRI examinations confirmed that the oldest current Champ Car driver (38-years-old) suffered a compression fracture to his first lumbar vertebrae.
He is America’s leading active open-wheel driver in terms of starts, wins and laps led.
Forsythe Championship Racing have selected Oriol Servia as Tracy’s replacement in the No. 3 Indeck Cosworth/DP01 for the rest of the weekend. Servia will take over the seat for today's final practice, second qualifying session and remain in the seat for Sunday's one hour, 45 minute event, where he will start from where he qualifies later today.
"Well this was obviously a surprise," said Servia. "Obviously everything has been very last minute. I’m still just getting up to speed and figuring out the DP01 around this track."
As a result of the switch, Tracy will head back home to rest "for a couple of days" after which he will begin developing a plan to return to action.
"Early next week we’ll start figuring out the best recovery options so I can get back in the car as soon as possible," said Tracy. "I feel OK right now after all the medication that the doctors gave me, but I’m just sore and stiff and I just need some rest."
Last season, Servia drove the No. 6 Gulfstrea/Bell Micro for PKV Racing, where he scored four top fives and eight top 10s on his way to finishing 11th in the championship standings. Although he did not find a ride for this season, he has competed in the Champ Car series the last seven seasons, winning once and scoring one pole.
However, unless Tracy returns from today's accident to a winning streak of historic proportions, this accident all but ends his championship challenge for 2007 – a fact that is not lost on the Canadian-born driver who finished third in last week's season opening Vegas Grand Prix.
"This is obviously a very unfortunate situation; it’s really a shame because it pretty much ruins the championship for us this year," said Tracy. "I’m very disappointed for the whole Team because we had gotten off to a great start in Vegas and we were pretty strong here, we were building momentum and just hoping to be fast and consistent the whole year.
"I wish Oriol the best of luck, he has a really good car and a great team behind him, and hopefully he can give the team a good result."
