Surgery Successful for
Emerson Fittipaldi

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DETROIT (July 30, 1996) - Emerson Fittipaldi, injured from an accident in Sunday's Marlboro 500, underwent a successful five-hour surgery to repair a fractured cervical vertebra Monday evening at the University of Miami Jackson Memorial Medical Center in Miami.

The surgery, which repaired the seventh cervical vertebra, was performed by Dr. Terry Trammell, IndyCar Director of Medical Services, and Dr. Barth Green, Department Chairman of Neurosurgery at the University of Miami. Dr. Steve Olvey, IndyCar Director of Medical Affairs, is serving as the attending physician and reported Tuesday morning that the 49-year-old Fittipaldi is in good spirits with stable vital signs and minimal discomfort. Fittipaldi is expected to get out of bed later today, but will remain hospitalized until fully ambulatory.

Olvey said that Fittipaldi's prognosis for returning to competition is excellent, but he is expected to require a minimum of three months to recuperate.