2007-09-24 08:08:32 · 8 answers · asked by seaturtle36 6 in Sports ➔ Auto Racing ➔ Other - Auto Racing
Also he started rehab 6 hrs after the surgery. Looks like he will be back next year.
2007-09-25 03:06:10 · answer #1 · answered by Monte T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sunday, 9:30 p.m. CT: Fourteen-time NHRA POWERade Funny Car world champion John Force is undergoing surgery at Baylor University Medical Center to repair damage to his knee, ankle, and wrist sustained in a high-speed collision with fellow competitor Kenny Bernstein in the second round of eliminations at the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex.
Force entered surgery at 8 p.m. CT for what is expected to be a four-hour surgery, according to team publicist Dave Densmore.
Monday, 1:30 a.m. CT: Good news from Baylor University Medical Center, where doctors operating on 14-time NHRA Funny Car world champ John Force were able to set his broken left ankle and determined that his wrist was not broken but just severely dislocated.
According to team spokesperson Elon Werner, doctors inserted three pins into Force's ankle to set it and inserted three temporary pins to stabilize his wrist.
Force came through the surgery well. A full update will be issued by the team Monday.
No update yet released from John Force Racing as of 2:30pm CT.
2007-09-24 08:26:32 · answer #2 · answered by mindcrime828 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Latest update:
Monday, 6;45p.m. CT: John Force, seriously injured Sunday in the crash of his Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang Funny Car during the 22nd annual O'Reilly Auto Parts Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex, was undergoing physical therapy Monday at Baylor University Medical Center following six hours of reconstructive surgery Sunday night on his feet, legs and hands.
The 14-time NHRA Funny Car champion suffered a compound fracture of the left ankle, a deep laceration of the left knee down to the bone, broken fingers and lacerations on the right hand and a dislocated left wrist that originally was diagnosed as a dislocation and break.
The 125-time tour winner's injuries were tended by Alan Jones, M.D., orthopedic traumatologist, Michael Foreman, M.D., chief of trauma services, and David Zehr, M.D., orthopedic surgeon and hand specialist.
“We don't really know what went wrong,” Force said Monday after viewing video of the crash for the first time. “I don't remember much. I remember thinking that I had to cut a light to beat (rival) Kenny Bernstein. The next thing I remember is them trying to get me out of the car.”
Force's race car broke in half just beyond the finish line at the end of a victorious second round. The front half of the car then shot across the center line, crashing into Bernstein's Dodge, separating the carbon fiber body from the chassis. Meanwhile, the back half of Force's car, with the 58-year-old driver still strapped in the seat, came to rest on its side against the leftside guardwall.
“I was worried about Bernstein,” Force said, “because I knew he was in the other lane. I didn't want to hurt anybody, especially Kenny. He's a good friend and a great competitor – and he did nothing wrong. In fact, he did a great driving job.
“I'm just lucky to have my legs. I gnawed off some fingers and toes, but they had me up trying to stand today. They're great people here at Baylor and I know they'll get me up and around as soon as they can.
“The car pulled in half and I've never seen that, ever. A tire came off the car just as I put the parachutes out and it literally pulled the car apart. I just feel so helpless and vulnerable. I've been on fire from here to Australia. I've had some burns, but I've gotten out of every crash and never had a scratch. I've never had a broken bone (before) so this is all new to me.”
*Personal note: Like the person who posted above, I also saw John's legs sticking out from the roll cage - and I thought for a second that it was my imagination! This could have had a very tragic ending, thank the good Lord it didn't. My prayers are with John and Laurie and their great family. We'll see him back next year!
2007-09-24 12:55:45 · answer #3 · answered by jan76016 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Play the accident in slow mostion and you will see he is lucky to even have legs at all. Pause the video just after the car spilts into two and you will see his legs just flopping out in the wind. The car was not designed to break way at the point were it did. Kenny is thankful for the new roll cage standard
2007-09-24 11:49:48 · answer #4 · answered by clw7834 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I saw the replay on WInd Tunnel last night, what a horrific crash! He is luck to have his legs, lucky to be alive for that matter.
I was glad to hear that he was alert when he got into the medevac helicopter and was worried about the other guy. My thoughts are with his family.
2007-09-24 12:01:35 · answer #5 · answered by Yurhynis 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Saw him on TV giving an interview on our local channel 8 he is doing great..already talking about racing..a quote.." this is the first time in ten years that Laurie has paid this much attention to me"..that was a quote that I saw him make on the interview...
2007-09-24 15:59:10 · answer #6 · answered by iceman55mew 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Last I read (4: est) he had come out of the surgeries fine.
Thanks to himself for coming up with the safer roll cage.
Had he not had inspiration to do that, we all might be mourning the loss of a great one.
2007-09-24 08:58:57 · answer #7 · answered by tom p 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
broken ankle and dislocated elbow and some other minor injuries. poor guy had a good shot at the championship. my prayers are with the force family
2007-09-24 10:45:28 · answer #8 · answered by Ben C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋