Both Dreyer & Reinbold drivers suffer similar fate

INDYCAR director of medical services Dr. Michael Olinger said that Dreyer & Reinbold drivers Justin Wilson and Ana Beatriz suffered hand injuries during the season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Beatriz will have surgery Tuesday, March 29 on her fractured scaphoid bone (wrist), which was incurred during the fifth lap in Turn 5 when the car made contact with the No. 38 car driven by Graham Rahal. The Brazilian soldiered through the race as she advanced six positions and brought the car home in 14th place.

"Well, I had an incident on the first restart in Turn 5 with Graham Rahal and it bent my front suspension. I could feel that my hand was sore and as the race went on it started to bother me more. I was just focused on finishing the race. I really wanted it. I was really happy to finish P14 with everything that happened. Even after the contact with Graham, I got a cut tire and had to come back in and we were still able to finish 14th and I'm really happy about that. The IndyCar medical team has been amazing. I will have surgery tomorrow, but I feel confident about getting back in the car and I will be ready to go," commented Beatriz.

Like his teammate, Wilson, driver of the No. 22 TransSystems car, also sustained injuries in Sunday's race. He has a small fracture of a wrist bone and will be fitted with a special carbon fiber brace. Wilson, who started sixth and finished 10th, was injured on a Lap 44 restart when his car and Tagliani's made contact.

"On the restart I made contact with Alex (Tagliani) in Turn 1. As our wheels bumped my steering wheel wrenched in my hand. I knew at that point that I had broken something. I knew it was bad, but I was able to continue driving and I raced with one hand and was able to secure some good points. A carbon fiber brace is being made and I'm making sure that everything is okay so that I can get back in the car for Barber," stated Justin.