Conway is out for the summer [Archive]

MDS

1st June 2010, 03:31

Conway to miss at least three months with injury to his spine, so at this point it appears the earliest he will be back is Labor Day at Kentucky.

According to the DR&R twitter they will field two cars at Texas, but have not named a relief driver yet.

If this series has one thing its a rich pool of experienced drivers who could fill in. Graham Rahal, Tomas Sheckter, Bruno Junqueria, Oriol Servia, Paul Tracy, J.R. Hildabrand, Jamie Cammara, James Hinchcliff, Sebastien Bourdais, Robert Doornbos... I could go on, its a pretty long list.

NickFalzone

1st June 2010, 03:35

Scheckter has won Texas, and he's worked with the team this season. He's gotta be the first choice.

call_me_andrew

1st June 2010, 03:38

Out for the whole summer? Oh man, he can't even go swimming now!

Scotty G.

1st June 2010, 03:39

Conway is for all intents and purposes, done for the year. Why bring him back for a few races at the end of the year (on ovals) when he is a road racer anyway? Just let him heal and try and get ready for 2011.

I am sure if Curry has any pull on this, that Scheckter will get the nod. Hopefully Tomas gets the citation he received on Saturday night before the Indy 500 put to bed and he can get back to showing flashes of brilliance while producing mediocre results in a race car.

You could run an another entire series with drivers who should be in a Indy Car. In fact, you might actually improve the series if all 24 full-timers now got injured and had to all be replaced (only half-kidding). :D

MDS

1st June 2010, 04:18

SoCalPVguy

1st June 2010, 04:26

Sheckter's not the most stable driver, he may have experience with the team, but Graham's a better choice for the series, and possibly for DR&R. He's experienced, young, had good success at Indy and was a teammate to Justin Wilson.

after that horrific looking crash, Conway is lucky all he got was a broken leg. If the car had hit the catch fence on the top instead of the bottom... well I wouldn't want to think about it.

anthonyvop

1st June 2010, 04:26

Another compression spine injury....When will it stop?

DanicaFan

1st June 2010, 05:31

I would like to see Graham in the car but my first instincts tell me it will be Scheckter in that car.

electron

1st June 2010, 09:52

I am evil Homer

1st June 2010, 10:02

If they want to compete i'd stick Bourdais in the car but it will probably be Rahal

Mark in Oshawa

1st June 2010, 13:44

Homer..that is assuming Bourdais would take the ride. If he is coming back to Indycar, would he want to come back this way? No.....I suspect it is either Rahal or Scheckter...

anthonyvop

1st June 2010, 18:09

hello?!

Another extreme wreck that the driver survived at all!
(the car could have easily killed RHR as well, so in fact two that where lucky)

to ask when such injuries will stop is asking when racing (at such speeds in ovals) will stop. Whenever a car at such speed hits something, the body is the weakest part of the chain. Bones just break on G forces.

Foot and leg injuries are common in all formula car series due to the basic layout and they have done much to prevent it.

While I realize that injuries happen in racing the fact that compression spine fractures are basically unique to Indy Car and rare in other series says a lot.

dataman1

1st June 2010, 19:03

Foot and leg injuries are common in all formula car series due to the basic layout and they have done much to prevent it.

While I realize that injuries happen in racing the fact that compression spine fractures are basically unique to Indy Car and rare in other series says a lot.

If my memory serves me well, I would add that it seems more prominent in the Dallara than we saw in Lola's and Reynards going faster pre-split.

anthonyvop

1st June 2010, 19:34

Indy car is the only rear engine OW series that runs on high speed ovals. You don't see these kinds of injuries on the road courses they run on.

When Champ Car ran ovals compression spine injuries were rare. The only one I can remember happened to Paul Tracey at Long Beach and that had mitigating circumstances.
In F-1 they approach speed equal to Indy Car and yet i cannot recall a single incident of compression spine injury.

Mark in Oshawa

1st June 2010, 20:38

Indy car is the only rear engine OW series that runs on high speed ovals. You don't see these kinds of injuries on the road courses they run on.

Starter, I think the Lola's and Reynards of CART didn't hurt the backs of their guys. I think Tony's point would be worth investigating. The Dallara and G-Force's of the earlier days of this formula were back breakers and the attenuator on the transmission was added to help, but I think the number of back issues after crashes are still maybe high. I suspect there is a study being done somewhere that will prove or disprove this. If not, there should be. I wonder what Dr. Steve Olvey and Dr. Terry Trammel think of all this...

Mark in Oshawa

1st June 2010, 22:28

I lot of this is speculation since none of us are experts in the area. You're correct that there weren't as many back injuries in CART, however how many very serious foot and leg injuries happened there? Quite a few. My point was more toward the nature of the racing. In F1 or CART/IRL (on road courses) the great majority of the time is not spent in the 180 MPH and higher area at all. Further, on more modern tracks, the things that you can hit are farther away. Running ovals, especially Indy, the cars spend nearly 100% of the lap at speeds in excess of the TOP speed of an F1. The faster you go the more energy there is that needs to be disapated in a VERY short (fractions of a second) time frame. It's the nature of the beast.

Oh very true, but once upon a time CART did race on ovals with cars not that much different than what was used up to the CCWS days...and I wonder if back issues were as common then as they are now.....or is there any way to really analyze the numbers scientifically. Considering the small sample size, likely not...

nigelred5

2nd June 2010, 02:16

Are they still running the longitudinal gearbox, I mean battering ram, the attenuator was supposed to help with? I agree to an extent it's the nature of oval racing, however there must be something about the seating position and design of the Dallara making them more common as well.

DanicaFan

2nd June 2010, 08:30

If they want to compete i'd stick Bourdais in the car but it will probably be Rahal

If they want to compete, that is hysterical... :D

Negative, they would be better off putting Graham Rahal in the car. He would be more competitive than anyone else that is available.

Phoenixent

2nd June 2010, 08:35

Negative, they would be better off putting Graham Rahal in the car. He would be more competitive than anyone else that is available.

That is one funny statement especially after watching him drive at Indy. I would put any of these drivers Paul Tracy, Bruno Junqueria, Oriol Servia, Sebastien Bourdais before I would but Rahal in the car.

I am evil Homer

2nd June 2010, 10:01

If they want to compete, that is hysterical... :D

Negative, they would be better off putting Graham Rahal in the car. He would be more competitive than anyone else that is available.

Really? Graham "one win by 3.2 seconds" Rahal or a 4 time champion? Or is it because he can turn left and right successfully unlike many others in the field?

Although I agree with Mark I doubt Seb would come back in this manner.

beachbum

2nd June 2010, 14:29

All of this speculation is interesting, but just speculation. We will know shortly who is in the car. IMHO, (pure speculation) the team may base it in the following.

1. Who is available for a partial session and willing to give up the seat when Conway is back.
2. Who can bring funding
3. What drivers are familiar with the team and the team feels is a comfortable fit.
4. What driver is ok with the sponsors.

I doubt many other considerations will figure into the decision.

Placid

2nd June 2010, 14:58

RHR season is at stake after Texas. I hope he get Conway's seat if he loses his seat at AA.

TURN3

2nd June 2010, 15:16

If they want to compete, that is hysterical... :D

Negative, they would be better off putting Graham Rahal in the car. He would be more competitive than anyone else that is available.

Negative? FYI, this isn't an episode of Hawaii Five 0. Worse yet, you show your lack of knowledge with your statement as much as any ridiculous Danica comment. While Rahal is a stud, up and coming, face of American open wheel, Bourdais is a 4x dominate champion. I like Rahal, I can't stand Bourdais, but...you have to know reality. Bourdais likely has zero interest in Indycar, especially with a mid-level team. But for you to think Rahal would be a better choice from a competition stand point is very telling of you.

gm99

2nd June 2010, 15:22

Really? Graham "one win by 3.2 seconds" Rahal or a 4 time champion? Or is it because he can turn left and right successfully unlike many others in the field?

Although I agree with Mark I doubt Seb would come back in this manner.

Considering Bourdais hasn't raced an Indy (as opposed to a Champ) car since 2005 and with little to no opportunity to test, Rahal with his recent experience would probably be the better short-term choice.

It would be interesting to see, though, what Séb could do in Indy Car these days, especially considering how Doornbos, who ran Bourdais close on a number of occasions in Champ Car in 2007, fared last season.

The logical replacement for Conway for Texas, though, would be Scheckter, who knows the team (a considerable advantage given that the start of the race week-end is only two days away) and his way around TMS, having usually gone well there in the past.

JimClarkFan

2nd June 2010, 15:27

First off, I am glad to see that Conway will recover and by okay.

But I need to comment on how he got himself into the situation he is in. From the very brief replay, it appears he tried to dive-bomb Hunter-Reay on the inside of the corner and got down onto the apron. He made a very risky move that endangered both himself and Ryan.

From watching him in GP2, he barely completed the first lap of races as he tried to win the race on the first lap. I thought he was one of the most reckless drivers in GP2.

I had hoped he would mature as he moved to IndyCars, but apparently not. I remember thinking to myself it would be great if he finished with a decent result, but he couldn;t do it.

Again, I am glad he is okay, but I sure hope he learns...

gm99

2nd June 2010, 15:31

@JimClarkFan: Hunter-Reay ran out of fuel and slowed down...

JimClarkFan

2nd June 2010, 15:36

gm99: thank's for the clarification - I did not know that. My first thought it was Conway again making a bad move.

garyshell

2nd June 2010, 15:58

But I need to comment on how he got himself into the situation he is in. From the very brief replay, it appears he tried to dive-bomb Hunter-Reay on the inside of the corner and got down onto the apron. He made a very risky move that endangered both himself and Ryan.

Uh, you might want to listen to an interview with RHR before you pull the trigger. He said his car ran out of fuel and left no where for Conway to go. He apologized to Conway for the incident. Clearly Conway has had his share of boneheaded moves, this one not being among them.

Gary

P.S. and I might want to read the rest of the thread before I pull the trigger. I see now that someonelse pointed this out.

GRW1983

2nd June 2010, 16:02

Looks like Conway will be out for the rest of the season, as he also has a vertabrae injury to his neck, as well as the spine fracture and broken left leg.

DanicaFan

2nd June 2010, 16:08

Negative? FYI, this isn't an episode of Hawaii Five 0. Worse yet, you show your lack of knowledge with your statement as much as any ridiculous Danica comment. While Rahal is a stud, up and coming, face of American open wheel, Bourdais is a 4x dominate champion. I like Rahal, I can't stand Bourdais, but...you have to know reality. Bourdais likely has zero interest in Indycar, especially with a mid-level team. But for you to think Rahal would be a better choice from a competition stand point is very telling of you.

First off, I know who Bourdais is. Despite the obvious of Bourdais being out of an indycar for quite some time now, here are my reasons....Graham would be still be a better choice because Bourdais has no experience with ovals, Graham does. Plus, Graham can hold his own against anyone on a road course when he is given good equipment. So yes, Rahal is the obvious choice.

But Im sure we will see Scheckter get the nod for this weekend.

gm99

2nd June 2010, 16:38

Graham would be still be a better choice because Bourdais has no experience with ovals, Graham does.

Bourdais does have oval experience - actually, he has a 50% win ratio on ovals* and even won an oval IROC race. So the experience is definitely there, just not recent.

*He ran seven Champ Car oval races, winning four, plus one Indy 500.

jwhite9185

2nd June 2010, 18:20

Well if nothing else the crash has raised awareness of Indycars here in the UK. Been stories about it for 3 days running now in the paper. And it was on the news on Monday. Bet if he hadn't of crashed then there would of been no mention of the 500 in any mainstream places.

Lousada

2nd June 2010, 18:50

RHR season is at stake after Texas. I hope he get Conway's seat if he loses his seat at AA.

I would not be surprised if that's it, Scheckter at Texas and RHR the rest of the season.

MDS

2nd June 2010, 20:09

I would not be surprised if that's it, Scheckter at Texas and RHR the rest of the season.

That may be the best option, with RHR you would have a chance to challenge for a top 5 in the points.

TURN3

2nd June 2010, 20:43

First off, I know who Bourdais is. Despite the obvious of Bourdais being out of an indycar for quite some time now, here are my reasons....Graham would be still be a better choice because Bourdais has no experience with ovals, Graham does. Plus, Graham can hold his own against anyone on a road course when he is given good equipment. So yes, Rahal is the obvious choice.

But Im sure we will see Scheckter get the nod for this weekend.

It disgusts me to even think of defending Bourdais, I despise him. But yet again, your lack of knowledge clearly shows. As pointed out previous, Bourdais does in fact have oval experience. He has more oval wins than your Princess in a fraction of the attempts. Read up, study, then come to the exam.

All that being said, Tomas is the obvious choice and that is in fact what has happened, at least for Texas.

beachbum

2nd June 2010, 21:09

Curt Cavin says it will be Scheckter at Texas as the team has a car set up for him

chuck34

2nd June 2010, 22:43

If my memory serves me well, I would add that it seems more prominent in the Dallara than we saw in Lola's and Reynards going faster pre-split.

Buddy Lazier in 96 (Reynard) comes to mind

Mark in Oshawa

2nd June 2010, 22:56

That is true Chuck. He was banged up pretty good. The problem is the first year of this formula of chassis in the IRL was a bad one for back injuries and they have never shaken that image...

garyshell

6th June 2010, 16:22

Conway is one damn lucky man. Check this set of photos (two directly shown below). WOW!
Go look at the rest of the set.

http://www.scottrichardsonphotography.com/2010/05/31/indianapolis-500-conway-wreck-5-30-10/

http://www.scottrichardsonphotography.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Indy-500-Race-20100530-0881.jpg

http://www.scottrichardsonphotography.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Indy-500-Race-20100530-0795.jpg

Mark in Oshawa

8th June 2010, 21:55

I was glad to see him get out of there without something REALLY serious. That was about as nasty a crash as I have seen at Indy in a long while...

00steven

8th June 2010, 22:07

That was one of the worst crashes in recent Indy memory. Thank God he didn't fly head first into the fence, that could have been catastrophic.

harvick#1

8th June 2010, 22:20

those are some absolutely stunning images, Conway was very lucky to escape with only a few injuries.

best wishes to a speedy recovery, I should just sit out the rest of the year and prepare for next year, no rushing a comeback this year.

call_me_andrew

9th June 2010, 04:32

The Dallara looks a lot more attractive when you split it in half.

garyshell

9th June 2010, 04:55

The Dallara looks a lot more attractive when you split it in half.

Is that supposed to be funny? If so, don't quit your day job.

Gary

electron

9th June 2010, 06:06

Dallara did a fine job on that tub!
saved a life there.

and Ryan ca be called lucky as well.

actually... where was that guy with that fire extinguisher when we needed him?

Mark in Oshawa

9th June 2010, 13:05

That was one of the worst crashes in recent Indy memory. Thank God he didn't fly head first into the fence, that could have been catastrophic.

He did in a sense. The car did hit the fence with the nose.

Mark in Oshawa

9th June 2010, 13:05

Dallara did a fine job on that tub!
saved a life there.

and Ryan ca be called lucky as well.

actually... where was that guy with that fire extinguisher when we needed him?

Dallaras are not the prettiest race car, but they do protect the driver...

GRW1983

9th June 2010, 13:41

Conway was actually on UK tv this morning, live from Indianapolis. He appeared wearing a neck brace (which he said was for the small fracture in his back because he didn't mention a neck injury) and seemed quite calm and collected. He hoped, ideally, to be out for only two months, but said it could be three. However, he has targeted the final two races of the season for his comeback, so he obviously expects to be back for Motegi in mid-September which would be quite remarkable. He has a final appointment with doctors today, and if given the all-clear, can fly home to England for his rehab. Get well soon, Mike.

TURN3

9th June 2010, 19:29

J-Dub is saying that he expecs a new teammate in Iowa with lots of rumors going around...or something to that effect. Who's it going to be? I guess PT did put a call into Robby Buhl but I strongy doubt that'll happen.