INDIANAPOLIS (May 9, 2008) – Charles Buckman, the chief mechanic for Mario Moraes' No. 19 car fielded by Dale Coyne Racing, was hospitalized Friday with a concussion and cuts to his face and scalp after being hit on pit road by Danica Patrick's incoming car during practice for this month's Indianapolis 500.
Buckman was transported to Methodist Hospital, and reported to be alert and awake during the trip. He said he hoped to be back at work in a day or two.
Buckman was hit by the front of Patrick's No. 7 car, then appeared to hit his head on the rear of the car before tumbling to the ground. Buckman said he remembered talking with someone on Marco Andretti's team and then everything went blank.
After the accident, Patrick said the incident was “really, really unfortunate.” She said “thoughts and prayers” were with Buckman and his family, and, “hopefully, he can get back on the track soon and be able to do what he loves.”
"You don't like to see that kind of thing, but, you know, it's not Danica's fault, it's not anybody's fault," Marco Andretti, Patrick's teammate, told the
Indianapolis Star.
In another incident, rookie Alex Lloyd complained of neck pain after slamming into the first-turn wall. Last season's champion in the Indy Lights Series had completed a lap at more than 223 mph when he lost control of his Dallara. He struck the outside wall with the rear of the car and continued into the second turn.
The 23-year-old was examined at the track's infield hospital, then taken to Methodist Hospital for additional tests.
Earlier in the day, rookie Mario Dominguez of Mexico had a minor crash. He was not hurt when his car tapped the inside wall in the warm-up lane. He was examined at the track hospital and cleared to drive.
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05-09-2008, 10:22 PM
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