Hamilton has already faced his toughest challenge

[Schwartz Fan]

Learning to walk again was the bigger challenge for Hamilton
STEVE HERMAN
The Associated Press
Wednesday, May. 07, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS - Davey Hamilton has already faced his toughest challenge.

An Indy Racing League mainstay and two-time runner-up during the series' early years, Hamilton was out of the sport almost six years after a devastating crash in 2001 mangled his feet and legs. He underwent 21 operations over the next few years and had to undergo an intense rehabilitation program just to learn to walk on his reconstructed feet.

"Physically, I've been staying in shape. It's something I have to do the rest of my life anyway, to try to stay light and fit just because of my legs," said Hamilton, whose persistence finally brought him back into racing last year and landed him another ride this month with IRL boss Tony George's Vision Racing team.

"After I ran Indianapolis last year, I started back in doing some short-track racing in midgets, sprint cars, super modifieds ... and then I did some tests earlier this year," said Hamilton, who will join Vision's Ed Carpenter and A.J. Foyt IV.

"I just hope to be able to stay with those two guys, because they're in a position to win a race. It'd be great to have three cars in the top five. It's a steep goal, but it's doable with this team."

Hamilton's best finish in seven previous races at Indy came in 1998, when he started eighth, led three laps and wound up fourth. He was injured at Texas Motor Speedway in 2001 when another car blew an engine and spun into him. His car slammed into the wall, breaking both of his legs and feet. He wasn't able to stand for five months and was in a wheelchair for almost a year.

After his lengthy rehabilitation, he eventually landed a job with Sinden Racing as a driver in its promotional two-seater program, did some broadcasting for the IRL radio network and was close to getting an Indy ride in 2006 before a sponsorship deal fell through at the last minute. Finally, he got a ride with Vision last year - his only race of the season - and finished ninth after rain halted the race 34 laps early.

The 45-year-old driver got another chance with Vision in a partnership with Kingdom Racing announced Sunday, just two days before the start of practice for the May 25 race.

Hamilton was required to take a refresher test, though, the final phase of the normal rookie test with 10 consecutive laps at more than 215 mph. He called it "a good little shakedown."

"We brought it back to the garage and made sure everything was all right," he said after his initial laps Monday. "But, yeah, it feels good to get back going again."

He credited the two-seater program, giving other people rides around the 2.5-mile track, with keeping him sharp.

"When I'm in the two-seater, even though it's 60 mph off the pace, I get the visual, the turning points and all that and just kind of visualize what it's going to be like when I get on the track with the real cars," Hamilton said.

He did it through pain that never completely goes away.

Hamilton lost the heel of his right foot, and the first few months after his accident he didn't know whether he would end up losing his feet and legs, too. Afterward, it was a matter of learning to walk again with a fused left ankle and very little mobility in the right.

He was nervous when he got back to Indy last year - until he got on the track.

"You know, I love this place," Hamilton said. It's hard, as a racing driver, to get this particular place out of your system. ... I feel really confident because I think we have a better program and Vision has a better program than last year, so ... we pick up where we left off and try to make it better."

Through the first four races this season, Vision's two drivers have combined for five top-10 finishes, although neither Carpenter nor Foyt has led a lap.

Carpenter, who is George's stepson, is ninth in the IndyCar Series points; Foyt, grandson of car owner and four-time Indy winner A.J. Foyt, is 14th.

"It's a goal to have all three of our cars in the top five," George said of his hopes for Indy this month, "and I believe we're capable of doing that. I think we're actually capable of winning the race as part of fulfilling that goal."

Hamilton intends to do his part.

"I'm completely focused until the race is over to put my best efforts, all the knowledge I have, all the knowledge I need to be accepting from the other guys, and trying to put one of us in Victory Lane," he said. "I think that's a goal for the team and definitely for myself."



Learning to walk again was the bigger challenge for Hamilton