Recovering Goodyear goes home to convalesce

The Canadian, who has twice finished runner-up at the Brickyard, suffered a lower back fracture after hitting the spinning car of Sarah Fisher and was admitted to Indianapolis's Methodist Hospital under the care of renowned Indy car trauma specialist Dr Terry Trammell.

Doctors estimate that Goodyear will need between eight to 12 weeks to recuperate fully. He will rest at home, but will wear a back brace during his recovery.

"I'll return to Methodist in three weeks for a complete set of X-rays to make sure that things are healing according to Dr Trammell's schedule," he said. "Walking and getting my strength back up are the first orders of business. My goal, once the brace is off, is to get back in a race car as soon as possible."

IRL racer Al Unser Jr will sub for the injured Goodyear in the June 9 IROC race at Michigan, round three of the four-race series. Unser Jr, a two-time IROC champion, said: "The most important thing to me right now is that Scott Goodyear has a speedy recovery. As always, it is a great honour to be invited to race in IROC, and I am looking forward to a very competitive race in Michigan."