Tomas Enge injury update

UPDATE Tomas Enge (a native of the Czech Republic living in Monaco) will undergo surgery to repair his broken left elbow on Friday, April 6. The Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing driver, who was injured in an accident while leading the GT2 class at the Sports Car Challenge at St. Petersburg American Le Mans Series race, will travel from Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. to Indianapolis, Ind. for the surgery. Due to a partially collapsed lung, Enge cannot be transported by air. Therefore, the four-time American Le Mans Series race winner will travel in team owner Michael Petersen's motorhome to Indianapolis. Following the 24 hour drive from Florida to Indiana, Enge is scheduled to arrive in Indianapolis on Thursday, April 5. He will then be admitted to Methodist Hospital and will have his first face-to-face visit with Dr. Terry Trammell. Trammell, the renowned orthopedic surgeon who has helped scores of professional race drivers return to the cockpit after serious injury, has reviewed Enge's X-Rays and is preparing for the surgery. Once the surgical procedures have been completed, Enge will remain in Indianapolis for rehabilitation.

Despite what is, at times, overpowering soreness from the impact, Enge's spirits and attitude remain high. He is excited about moving on to the next level of his rehabilitation and ultimate homecoming with the Dale White-managed team. He will return to the No. 31 MMPIE/PAWS/Petersen Holdings/Michelin Ferrari F430 GT upon the clearance of Dr. Trammell.

Additional information will be made available following Friday's surgery or as events warrant.

Electronic well wishes are welcome and can be sent to Tom@PetersenMotorsports.com and will be forwarded to Enge.

Quotes
Tomas Enge: "The first thing I want to say is how much I appreciate everything that everyone has done for me. The doctors and nurses here at Bayfront have been very good to me. The American Le Mans Series, IMSA and the whole Petersen/White Lightning team have been here since the first moment and helped take care of all the details. I have had so many people call and email that it will take me time to respond to everyone but it is very nice to have so many people care. Panoz and Panther Racing even offered me the use of their jets. It means a lot to me. I can't even say how much it means. We are working with Indianapolis Medical Center and Dr. Trammell. We will have the surgery there because I want to be in the best hands of the best people. They know the race car drivers. I will leave here today and I am ready to get on to the next step to get back into the car. Otherwise, I am still in quite big pain but everything is going fine. Hopefully the surgery will be good and we'll be back on the track as soon as possible."

04/01/07 Less than 18 hours after a violent accident in the Sports Car Challenge at St. Petersburg American Le Mans Series race, Tomas Enge (a native of the Czech Republic living in Monaco) is awake, alert and resting at the Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. Following overnight evaluation, X-Rays and CT scans of the Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing driver, it has been determined that he has suffered a severely shattered elbow, cracked ribs, a partially collapsed lung and a potentially broken ankle. All the serious injuries were to his left side. Despite being extremely sore and bruised from the accident, Enge is talkative with medical and team personnel and is his lighthearted and humorous self.

X-Rays of Enge's elbow and ankle will be reviewed today by renowned orthopedic surgeon Terry Trammell. Once his recommendations are made, it is anticipated that Enge will be transported to Indianapolis' Methodist Hospital where Trammell's practice is located. Because of the partially collapsed lung, as well as soreness, Enge will not be transported to Indianapolis until Monday at the earliest. The date of Enge's surgery, its duration and magnitude, as well as his projected recuperation time have not been determined at this time.

Enge was injured in a serious accident on Saturday during the running of the second American Le Mans Series race of the season. Near the two hour mark of the two hour, 45-minute race, the driver's side of the No.31 MMPIE/PAWS/Petersen Holdings/Michelin Ferrari F430 GT made heavy contact with the retaining wall between turns three and four on the 14-turn, 1.8- mile temporary street course. Enge, who had the fastest qualifying lap and set fastest race lap for the event, was leading the GT2 class at the time of the accident.

Additional information will be made available as it becomes available.

Electronic well wishes for Enge are welcome and can be sent to Tom@PetersenMotorsports.com and will be forwarded to Enge.

Quotes

Dale White, Team Manager/Entrant: "Tomas is back to himself 100% today. That is really good to see. You always hope for the best and try to fight thinking the worse in situations like this. But, even last night, he was the same-old Tomas so all the fears of the worse are gone. Scott Atherton, the American Le Mans Series and the staff here at Bayfront have been tremendous and we want to thank them. We are working on all the details of what comes next in his treatment and recuperation and we will let everyone know the details as soon as we can. On behalf of the Tomas and the team I want to thank everyone for the incredible outpouring of support. There is no way we can express our gratitude."