Franchitti leaves hospital

"The procedure went well and glad it's finally behind me," quipped Franchitti. "Dr. Trammell and his team did a fantastic job with a minimal amount of pain and disruption, and I can't thank the medical staff at Methodist Hospital enough."

The popular Andretti Green Racing driver has been receiving messages of support from all over the world. "Thanks to everyone for all their support and the get-well wishes I've been receiving this week. I'm resting and doing very well."

Renowned orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Terry Trammell and his partner Dr. Larry Stevens, performed the video assisted thorascopic anterior vertebraectonomy and said they expect Franchitti to make a speedy recovery.

"Dario's surgery went very well and he has recovered rapidly," said Dr. Trammell. "He was able to get up and walk only a few days following the procedure and that was a great sign. We've got him in a custom fitted carbon fiber brace that he'll have to wear for a while, but it will allow him to move around freely and participate in fitness training down the road."

Franchitti injured his lower back in early April when a mechanical failure threw him from his motorcycle near Edinburgh.