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Power given all clear to drive in Mexico champ car finale |
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Monday, 05 November 2007 |
Team Australia driver Will Power has received approval from Champ Car
medical officials to race in this week’s Gran Premio Tecate in Mexico
City after injuring his wrist in the Lexmark Indy 300 in Australia last
month.
Along with receiving the all clear for this weekend’s season finale
in Mexico City on November 9-11, as has been done in the past, Champ
Car has granted Power 15 minutes prior to the first practice session on
Friday to trial a brace that the Australian will wear on his injured
left wrist.
Power sustained the injury at the previous round, the Lexmark Indy 300
on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia on October 21. The injury
was as a result of an incident with Katherine Legge at Falken Corner on
lap 19 of the event. Power was attempting to pass Legge when the two
made contact, sending Power’s #5 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia DP01
into the tyre wall with broken rear suspension.
After examination from Champ Car medical officials it has been
determined that Power has two small hairline fractures in his left
wrist. The fractures are not displaced, meaning the usual healing time
is three to four weeks, with no operation required.
X-rays and scans taken in the week after the incident have been
examined by Champ Car medical officials, who have given Power the
all-clear to race in Mexico City at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez,
the final race of the 2007 Champ Car World Series.
Power will wear a special carbon fibre brace during competition
this weekend and will run extra practice laps on the Friday morning 15
minutes prior to the first practice session, to ensure that everything
fits properly.
Power currently lies fourth in the Champ Car World Series standings
and will be out to maintain that position in Mexico City, where Power
scored his debut Champ Car podium last season for Team Australia.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY …
Will Power – #5 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia DP01
“Each day my wrist feels better and I’m confident going into Mexico,” said Power.
“This track will be the real test, so it will be good to make sure
everything is in place on Friday so we can end the season on a high
come Sunday.”
Derrick Walker – Team Australia Co-Owner
“Will should be up and running a 100 percent for Mexico,” said Walker.
“Champ Car is providing us some additional track time and it’s
greatly appreciated, because it will allow a great opportunity to get
the support properly fitted to his wrist so that going into official
practice we shouldn’t have any issues at all.
“Mexico is a track that suits Will well, so being 100 percent fit and raring to go should work well for us.”
Craig Gore – Team Australia Co-Owner
“It’s a relief that Will is going to be alright to fly the Team Australia flag in Mexico City,” said Gore.
“He did very well in Mexico City last season, scoring his first podium with our team and securing the Rookie of the Year title.
“Will and our whole team still feel pretty bad about our result in
Surfers Paradise so everyone in Team Australia is keen to make a little
amends with a strong result in Mexico.”
2007 Champ Car World Series Points Standings
After Round 13 of 14
1. #1 Sebastien Bourdais 332
2. #9 Justin Wilson 270
3. #14 Robert Doornbos 262
4. #5 Will Power 234
5. #2 Graham Rahal 220
6. #21 Neel Jani 218
7. #19 Bruno Junqueira 216
8. #15 Simon Pagenaud 213
9. #3 Oriol Servia 212
10. #8 Alex Tagliani 197
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