Kanaan injures wrist

[Schwartz Fan]

Kanaan injures wrist



WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. - Andretti Green Racing's Tony Kanaan suffered an injured left wrist from a crash in the morning warm-up session for the Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen.

Kanaan's No. 11 7-Eleven car did a quarter-spin entering Turn 6 and made heavy contact with the tire barrier with the rear end. X-rays taken by Indy Racing League medical officials at the infield care center showed nothing broken and Kanaan was cleared to compete.

Crews from all four AGR cars pitched in to repair the primary car that Kanaan qualified sixth on the 26-car grid.

"This is a team that has four cars and a lot of people that work really good together," team manager Kyle Moyer said as the No. 11 crew was making final adjustments to the car just before it took its place on the starting grid. "It was a little bit of everybody and we took a few parts from everybody's backup cars. This thing might not look the pretiest, but it's capable of winning the race."

Kanaan said he'll fight through the pain, which will be exacerbated by the twists and undulations of the 3.37-mile, 11-turn Watkins Glen International circuit. He was third-quick in the 30-minute practice session at 1 minute, 32.6597 seconds (130.931 mph).

"They told me it was 70 or 80 Gs (G forces), which is the second 80 Gs of the month for me," said Kanaan, referencing the Turn 1 crash June 22 at Iowa Speedway. "The (right-rear) suspension broke, which is not something you expect at 170 mph on a downhill straightaway. Obviously, it was a hard hit and it's a shame. If there's a positive way of thinking, I'm glad it happened in the warm-up and not in the race."

Kanaan suffered a fractured left wrist in the 2003 IndyCar Series race at Twin Ring Motegi.

"Once you're in the car sometimes with the adrenaline I'm hoping it will go away," he said. "I'm a fighter. I'm not going to give up."

Kanaan is coming off a victory at Richmond International Raceway and is fourth in the championship standings.



IndyCar.com