Penske Racing's Will Power will remain in Santa Rosa Memorial hospital for a few more days following his mega practice accident on Saturday morning at Infineon Raceway when he T-boned the stalled car of Nelson Philippe.

Power, who suffered concussion and compression fractures of his second and fourth lumbar vertebrae in the incident, is in the process of being fitted for a custom back brace.

The sometime Penske 'third-car' driver is then expected to be transported to Indianapolis, where he will undergo further examination by IndyCar Series orthopaedic specialist, Dr. Terry Trammell. Dr. Trammell will determine Power's next course of treatment and recovery.

Meanwhile Conquest Racing driver Nelson Philippe suffered a concussion and an open fracture of his left foot.

He underwent surgery to have the foot fracture washed out and repaired. After further examination, it was found that Philippe also suffered a hairline fracture of his right fibula and he will be fitted with a brace.

Philippe is expected to remain hospitalised at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for another night.

Power and Philippe both watched the IndyCar Series race from their hospital rooms, but were unable to watch Sunday morning's F1 grand prix as the hospital's TV package didn't include SPEED TV.

Both cars were destroyed in the impact from Saturday morning's crash during practice. Penske Racing had a back-up car, which was prepared and is on the transporter. Conquest Racing is now down to one race car. Philippe wasn't scheduled to race next weekend at Chicagoland, nor the Japanese race at Twin Ring Motegi, and the team hadn't yet decided on the season's finale race at Homestead. Another driver had already been slated to race for Conquest at the Japanese race.


by Lynne Huntting