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| | Monday, October 18 | |||||
| FORT WORTH, Texas -- Three crew members injured in Saturday's pit lane accident at Texas Motor Speedway remain hospitalized in serious condition.
Twelve crew members were either injured or hospitalized when the
car driven by rookie Niclas Jonsson lost control in the pit
area, slammed into the pit wall and rebounded into Tyce
Carlson's car, where crew members were trying to repair an
electronics problem, during post-qualifying practice for Sunday's Indy Racing League's Mall.com 500.
Texas Motor Speedway medical director Dr. Robert
Genzel said Thomas Bose is listed in serious condition at Harris
Methodist Hospital with rib fractures, Tracy Hash is in serious
condition at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas with a complex
compound fracture of the left leg above the ankle and Jeff
Howerton is in serious condition at John Peter Smith Hospital in
with a broken right leg.
All three are from Indianapolis.
Five others have been released, including Mike Alessi, Thomas
Beaudry and Brian Figg from John Peter Smith; Richard Carlson
from North Hills Hospital; and Jonsson from Harris Methodist.
Greg Height and William Dyer were expected to be released
form Parkland Memorial.
Two others, Jason Beck and Derek Branch, were treated at the Columbia HCA Infield Care Center following the
accident and released Saturday.
Jonsson, who sustained a slight concussion, missed Sunday's season-ending race. Carlson wasn't injured, but his father, Richard Carlson, who has a heart problem, was hospitalized as a precaution. He, too, was released, officials said.
The rest worked for Carlson's team.
Jonsson was heading back onto the track after a pit stop when his car jerked left, hit the retaining wall and smacked into Carlson's parked car.
Carlson's crew was working on an electrical problem. They never saw or heard Jonsson coming. The Swede had been building up speed for about 50 yards.
Carlson competed in Sunday's race with crew members from other
teams and finished 13th. Jonsson, however, pulled out of the race because of damage to his car.
"These guys are not only my teammate, but they are also my best friends," Tyce Carlson said. "Today's race is dedicated to them, and they will be with me all the way."
"Our injured crew members know and accept all aspects of racing,
good and bad," said Jim Immke, co-owner of Hubbard-Immke Racing.
"We are racing today at the request of our injured team members.
We thank God that their injuries were not more severe, and
today's race is dedicated to them. We with them a full and speedy recovery."
Carlson recalled the frightful moments of the crash on pit road.
"We had lost our electronics, we came in and the guys were
working on the left side of the car putting the new electronics
in," Carlson explained after the mishap. "We had just started
the car up and were getting ready to button it back up. I guess
Nick got loose coming down the pit lane and he went right in
between the wall and the left side of our car and wiped out
every guy on the left side.
Carlson was in the car at the time but was unhurt. Eyewitnesses said the car landed on top of Beck and safety crews had to pull it off the injured crewman.
"Saturday was very unfortunate," Jonsson said. "I don't really
want to say anything until after the car is checked out, but I
can tell you I was not in any shock physically after the crash.
I am very concerned about the crew members on Tyce's team and am
upset about it. As for me, I'm fine. I had a CAT scan and some
X-rays done and did have a headache, but I was not confused or
anything like that. My headache is gone, and I'm really sorry it happened." | ALSO SEE Ray wins IRL title after taking 3rd at Mall.com 500
Pit road accident injures 12 during Mall.com 500 practice
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