Day Two, "The Roar by the Shore", Long Beach Grand Prix, 33rd edition
Today we'll post a few snapshots from the Champ Car practice & qualifying, and the American LeMans Series race.
The first shows the Forsythe Racing #3 DP-01 Cosworth Champ Car of four time Long Beach winner Paul Tracy getting last minute tweaks. The question is whether he can qualify well enough to use his experience to capitalize on other driver's mistakes during the race.
Posted at 10:29 am local time
Tracy hit a wall in Turn One during practice. The Champ Car Medical Team iced his back, but Tracy was taken to a local hospital, complaining of back spasms. He'll be checked out; we're not sure if he will be back for second round qualifying. His first day speed of 103.318 would likely get him a mid-pack start, if he decides to sit out second round. Sebastien Bourdais clocked in at 104.6 miles per hour; Will Power is at 104.211 miles per hour; qualifying later this afternoon.
Posted at 11:31 am local time
Update--Tracy is getting a MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) exam, so veteran Oriol Servia will qualify the #3 Forsythe Racing DP-01 Cosworth Champ Car this afternoon. Servia, a substitute, would start in the position he wins this afternoon; Tracy would indeed stand on his Friday time and speed (as we suggested earlier).
Posted at 1:13 pm local time
Update--Paul Tracy is out of this weekend's Long Beach race. The MRI exam and x-rays showed Tracy suffered a compression fracture to the first lumbar vertebrae (L1). The four time winner here at Long Beach will be evaluated early next week by Dr. Terry Trammell, noted orthopedic specialist from Indianapolis, who's worked on many open wheel drivers through the years. No timetable was given for Tracy's return; he's expected to leave St. Mary's Hospital later today. Servia has replaced Tracy at Forsythe for the time being.
Posted at 2:02 pm local time
