Gugelmin okay after 123G impact

The 38-year old, who had been fourth fastest in the Friday morning practice, had his PacWest Reynard-Toyota snap out of control in Turn 1 and thump the wall backwards with an impact measured at 123G. Gugelmin was taken to the CART Medical Centre complaining of pain between his shoulders and in his knee.

"I downshifted approaching Turn 1 and the rear of my car got loose," Gugelmin reported. "When I corrected, the car wobbled so I corrected the steering and lost it. The hit registered 123Gs in just 0.03 second, so I anticipate quite a bit of soreness tonight and tomorrow."

Gugelmin was involved in a sizeable accident at Texas Motor Speedway in April, causing him to miss the Nazareth race a week later. His status for the rest of the Chicago weekend is yet to be determined.

"The doctors said I have been cleared to drive tomorrow, so I'll do some work tonight with a trainer and then report to CART in the morning for some physical therapy," he said. "But I walked away with really just cuts and bruises, so I'm very fortunate to have been wearing the HANS Device (head and neck support) and thankful these cars are so safe today."

CART Director of Medical Affairs Dr Steve Olvey said the force of the impact cracked Gugelmin's HANS Device.

"The impact was even larger than his crash in Texas and it completely used up his headrest and cracked the HANS Device," Olvey said. "But that's better than his neck cracking.

"It makes a big difference. Instead of being knocked out and finding himself in a hospital tonight, Mauricio has a chance to drive tomorrow."