More surgery for injured Dare

Dare was injured on Thursday evening when his car crashed in the fourth turn during practice for the Bombardier 500. "Something broke and it just shot me into the wall," Dare told the team's spokeswoman. "I remember A.J.'s story about when he got hurt at Elkhart Lake. He asked the doctors to hit him with a hammer. I know what he meant. I was wishing I could be knocked out, too."

Dare was listed in stable condition following the surgery, according to Dr. Henry Bock, medical services director for the Indy Racing League. His femur (thigh bone) and humerus (upper arm bone) were broken in the impact. He also sustained several minor fractures in his right hand and right foot. "I feel much better today," he said. "It only hurts when I move."

Foyt said he hadn't determined what happened to the car before it crashed, but that the team was concerned about Dare. "I am very upset about what happened," Foyt said. "I'm glad they are the type of injuries he can recover from. When I talked to him on the phone today, he sounded pretty good."

Jaques Lazier, chosen to replace Dare in Foyt's No.5 car, practiced for the first time Friday afternoon, turning the 10th-fastest lap in the afternoon session and the 12th-fastest lap in the evening session. "I'm just trying to help out in any way possible," he said. "Everything has gone extremely smoothly so far."

Lazier is one of the few IRL drivers to experience more than one engine this season. He drove a Chevrolet for Team Menard through the first four races before switching to Foyt's Toyota.

"Obviously, they're two totally different engines," he said. "The biggest thing I can feel is the torque curve coming off the corner. That's what allows you to get a run on somebody and slingshot past them."

Let go last week by Menard in favor of Vitor Meira, Lazier said he isn't angry about the decision. "I was expecting a change, but not quite this soon," Lazier said. "I don't hold a grudge. I understand that business is business."

Foyt and Lazier met shortly after Dare's crash, which occurred at about 18:35 (CDT). They tried to get Foyt's No.5T car ready for qualifying at 20:00, but they didn't make it in time. Lazier will start 22nd in the 22-car race. "We tried to get everything done," Lazier said, "but we just ran out of time." Tonight's race begins at 20:00 (EDT) and will be televised live by ESPN.