Scott Goodyear Resting At Home In Indianapolis
Scott Goodyear, who has a fractured T11 vertebra (the 11th thoracic vertebra, mid-back), is resting comfortably at his home today. Goodyear crashed in turn two at the Nelson Piquet International Speedway in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the Rio 400 morning practice session on Saturday, March 16. The team had made a major wing change on the rear of the car in an effort to gain some straight-away speed. Unfortunately, the change must have reduced the downforce significantly. Goodyear exited the pits on warm tires and as he entered turn two, the car spun and he went backwards into the wall.Following Dr. Terry Trammell's diagnosis of the injury as a stable fracture that could be treated in a brace, measurements were sent to Wayne Rosen Orthotics, the Ft. Lauderdale-based company selected to manufacture the brace. Meanwhile, Goodyear was to lie flat on his back at Hospital Rio Mar until the brace arrived on March 18. Once the brace was in place, Goodyear was physically capable of making the trip to the U.S.
Late Monday afternoon, Goodyear was transported via helicopter from Hospital Rio Mar to the Rio airport where he boarded a Federal Express cargo plane, one of two planes transporting the Indy Car teams' race cars and equipment back to Indianapolis. By traveling on the cargo plane instead of a passenger plane, Goodyear had ample room to lie down and travel in comfort. Following a stop for fuel in Venezuela, Goodyear arrived in Indianapolis on the morning of March 19.
"I can't thank the Federal Express people enough for allowing me to travel on the cargo plane," Goodyear said. "I really wanted to come home. I guess you could say that they shipped me 'priority' because I got here overnight before 10:30 a.m."
Goodyear is scheduled to wear the brace for six to eight weeks. Then, it may take another six to eight weeks before it will heal well enough to race. Based on Goodyear's discussions with Dr. Trammell while in Brazil, the talented Canadian is hoping to be back in the cockpit for the Detroit Grand Prix.
Meanwhile, Goodyear's Valvoline DuraBlend Special is being shipped back to Reynard Racing Cars in England for repairs. Derrick Walker, Walker Racing's team owner, has guaranteed Goodyear that his ride will be waiting for him.
"I talked with Scott and told him that his car will be ready whenever he is," Walker said. "The sponsors on his car are his, so I have no intentions of running that car with someone else with his sponsors.
"I don't have any plans to put someone else in the car right now. Obviously, we wouldn't be able to that for Australia since the car is being shipped to England. I would consider putting someone else in the car until Scott gets back if it was a competent driver who had sponsorship of his own to help maintain our franchise."
During his recuperation, Goodyear plans to spend some quality time with his wife Leslie, their four-year-old son Christopher and the new addition to their family, Michael Evan, born on February 23.
Source: IndyCar Website