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. ”
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