Tracy Remains Optimistic About Championship Hopes

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Tracy Remains Optimistic About Championship Hopes
©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc.
Paul's medical problems expected to disappear before Portland race
Although PPG Cup points leader Paul Tracy suffered a blow to his championship bid Sunday when he withdrew from the ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix with back spasms, one missed race hardly makes his title chase a lost cause.
In recent CART history, a driver has won the PPG Cup despite missing a race. In 1993, Nigel Mansell missed the early-season Phoenix race when a practice accident sidelined him with lower back injuries. Mansell nevertheless went on to win the PPG Cup that year.
Tracy (Marlboro Penske Mercedes) withdrew from the ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix roughly 90 minutes before the green flag Sunday as a result of a recurrence of symptoms of severe cervical muscle spasms associated with mild vertigo.
The symptoms first surfaced during the Motorola 300 at Gateway International Raceway in late May, and recurred during last weekend's Miller 200 at The Milwaukee Mile. Tracy received treatment throughout the weekend from Dr. Steve Olvey, CART Director of Medical Affairs, and was cleared to drive in the Sunday morning warm-up session after being re-evaluated by Olvey early in the day.
Following the 30-minute warm-up, the symptoms resurfaced and the decision was made mutually by Marlboro Team Penske and Dr. Olvey to withdraw Tracy, who entered the weekend with a 94-70 PPG Cup lead over Michael Andretti (Kmart/Texaco/Havoline Swift Ford), for reasons of safety and comfort. He now leads Andretti by eight points, 94 - 86 while Greg Moore is a close third in the points race with 85.
The symptoms are expected to resolve themselves completely in a few days and Tracy will be back in the cockpit for the June 22 Budweiser/G.I. Joe’s 200 at Portland International Raceway.
"Obviously, this is a huge disappointment for the entire Marlboro Team," Tracy said, "especially since we're in the battle for the PPG Cup championship and every point counts. The good news is that we should be ready to race in Portland and we'll still be leading the championship when we arrive there."
Tracy missed starts at the Marlboro 500 and Mid-Ohio last season with a chip fracture of the spinous process cervical vertebra sustained during a practice accident at Michigan Speedway. He had made 68 consecutive starts over five seasons prior to sustaining his injury.
There have been no reports that Tracy’s current problems are related to the Michigan accident.
Source: CART News Service


		JUST RELEASED! — The Official Directory for CART Racing

		Tracy Remains Optimistic About Championship Hopes ©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc. Paul's medical problems expected to disappear before Portland race Although PPG Cup points leader Paul Tracy suffered a blow to his championship bid Sunday when he withdrew from the ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix with back spasms, one missed race hardly makes his title chase a lost cause. In recent CART history, a driver has won the PPG Cup despite missing a race. In 1993, Nigel Mansell missed the early-season Phoenix race when a practice accident sidelined him with lower back injuries. Mansell nevertheless went on to win the PPG Cup that year. Tracy (Marlboro Penske Mercedes) withdrew from the ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix roughly 90 minutes before the green flag Sunday as a result of a recurrence of symptoms of severe cervical muscle spasms associated with mild vertigo. The symptoms first surfaced during the Motorola 300 at Gateway International Raceway in late May, and recurred during last weekend's Miller 200 at The Milwaukee Mile. Tracy received treatment throughout the weekend from Dr. Steve Olvey, CART Director of Medical Affairs, and was cleared to drive in the Sunday morning warm-up session after being re-evaluated by Olvey early in the day. Following the 30-minute warm-up, the symptoms resurfaced and the decision was made mutually by Marlboro Team Penske and Dr. Olvey to withdraw Tracy, who entered the weekend with a 94-70 PPG Cup lead over Michael Andretti (Kmart/Texaco/Havoline Swift Ford), for reasons of safety and comfort. He now leads Andretti by eight points, 94 - 86 while Greg Moore is a close third in the points race with 85. The symptoms are expected to resolve themselves completely in a few days and Tracy will be back in the cockpit for the June 22 Budweiser/G.I. Joe’s 200 at Portland International Raceway. "Obviously, this is a huge disappointment for the entire Marlboro Team," Tracy said, "especially since we're in the battle for the PPG Cup championship and every point counts. The good news is that we should be ready to race in Portland and we'll still be leading the championship when we arrive there." Tracy missed starts at the Marlboro 500 and Mid-Ohio last season with a chip fracture of the spinous process cervical vertebra sustained during a practice accident at Michigan Speedway. He had made 68 consecutive starts over five seasons prior to sustaining his injury. There have been no reports that Tracy’s current problems are related to the Michigan accident. Source: CART News Service