Gregoire breaks back at Indy Speedway

UPDATE Gregoire was released from the hospital Friday morning, but was not cleared to drive and will not be allowed to qualify this weekend. "Though he is feeling well and is experiencing only minimal pain, Stephan will not be cleared to compete in remaining Indianapolis 500 activities this month," IRL medical services director Dr. Mike Olinger said.

05/17/07 Stephan Gregoire will not continue driving the Chastain Motorsports No. 77 car after injuring his back during a wreck today, Chastain Motorsports owner Tom Chastain told he Indy Star.

"He said the team's worked too hard to not go forward, so he wants us to go forward," Chastain said. "He's not going to be able to drive for us … He's basically just said he can't do it."

Gregoire was admitted to Methodist Hospital shortly after the wreck, and will be held overnight for observation, Chastain said. An MRI showed Gregoire suffered an end-plate fracture of the third thoracic vertebrae, a location proximate of the shoulder blades, Dr. Mike Olinger, director of medical services for the Indy Racing League, told The Associated Press. His car spun out and struck the wall dead on with the rear of the transmission, which transmitted the force through the engine and into the drivers back, thereby snapping the vertebra.