Gommendy to sit out Edmonton race

UPDATE Mario Dominguez or Andrew Ranger are two possible replacements for Gommendy on Sunday. Gommendy has an edema of the bone, swelling of the bone, in the lower thorasic vertebrae between T11 and T12, due to his head-on impact with the wall at 40 MPH.

Jimmy Vasser, Kevin Kalkhoven and Mark Johnson talk to Tristan Gommendy, telling him that Champ Car's Dr. Chris Pinderski is advising him to leave the car until further tests can be performed after his Friday accident. Photo courtesy of Champ Car.

07/21/07 After making contact with the wall during Friday's qualifying, Tristan Gommendy (#22 Pay by Touch-Megaspiera Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone) complained of back pain and was sent to the hospital for precautionary x-rays and was released. Because of ongoing pain, he received a MRI this afternoon which shows edema of two thoracic vertebra which implies subtle bone injury. He will be unable to compete this weekend and will be reevaluated by Dr. Trammel this week in Indianapolis.

This means the Edmonton starting grid is down to a pathetic 16 cars.