'I'm Going to Count My Blessings'
By STEPHEN HAWKINS,
AP
Posted: 2008-05-09 17:30:01
FORT WORTH, Texas (April 4) - NASCAR Sprint Cup rookie Michael McDowell walked away virtually unscathed from a horrific tumbling crash during qualifying Friday at Texas Motor Speedway.
June 21, 2008: Traveling around 300 mph, Scott Kalitta's car explodes into flames and crashes at the end of the track during a qualifying event at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. The NHRA driver died at age 46 as a result of his severe injuries.
Kevin Hodapp, AP
May 17, 2008: Tad Segars rolls his car during the Thunder Car 50 auto race prior to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C.
Gerry Broome, AP
May 17, 2008: Phil Giebler is hospitalized with bruised lungs after a fiery crash during Indianapolis 500 practice.
Steve Russell, AP | Ron Sanders, AP
May 11: Giancarlo Fisichella (top) of Italy and and Kazuki Nakajima of Japan collide shortly after the start of the Turkish Formula One Grand Prix in Istanbul, Turkey.
Mark Thompson, Getty Images
May 2, 2008: Moto GP championship co-leader Jorge Lorenzo fractures his left ankle during a hard fall at practice for the Grand Prix of China.
Teh Eng Koon, AFP / Getty Images
April 27, 2008: Formula One driver Heikki Kovalainen is taken to the hospital by helicopter after a high-speed crash into the railing at the Spanish Grand Prix. Kovalainen escaped without serious injury even though stewards needed about 10 minutes to free him from his car.
Bernat Armangue, AP
April 26, 2008: Reigning Indy Car Series champion Dario Franchitti, left, is smashed by Larry Gunselman in his driver side door during the Aaron's 312 Nationwide Series race. The star has to be helped from his car and taken to the hospital after breaking his left ankle.
Dale Davis, AP
April 4, 2008: NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Michael McDowell's car is hauled to the garage following his scary crash during qualifying for the Samsung 500. Despite flipping over numerous times, McDowell was able to walk away without injury.
Larry Papke, AP
Feb. 23, 2008: V8 Supercar driver Ashley Cooper hits a concrete barrier at the Clipsal 500, causing severe head trauma and swelling of the brain. The 27-year-old Australian died days later from his injuries.
YouTube.com
Feb. 10, 2008: Defending Funny Car champion Tony Pedregon suffers a major engine explosion after slamming into a wall at nearly 300 mph during the NHRA Winternationals. Pedregon somehow walked away with only second-degree burns.
Auto Imagery, AP
McDowell was going into the first turn of his second lap when his No. 00 Toyota got loose, then slammed almost headfirst into the SAFER (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction) barrier. The car ricocheted off the wall and onto its roof, then rolled at least eight times before finally coming to rest at the bottom of the high-banked track.
As he got out of the crumbled car, McDowell waved to the crowd indicating that he was OK.
"I feel great, nothing broke," McDowell said. "I didn't lose consciousness. I felt every roll down the hill."
McDowell said he had "few little bumps and bruises," but was fine other than that.
While McDowell said he didn't know what happened, he said something "didn't quite feel right" on the car when he came out of fourth turn on the first lap.
"For me to walk away from that wreck is unbelievable," McDowell said. "I'm going to count by blessings tonight and thank God for this opportunity to walk away from that wreck."
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 15: Singer Keith Urban performs during pre-race prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Getty Images
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 15: Singer Keith Urban performs during pre-race prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Getty Images
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 15: Singer Keith Urban performs during pre-race prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Getty Images
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 15: Singer Keith Urban performs during pre-race prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Getty Images
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 15: Singer Keith Urban performs during pre-race prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Getty Images
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 15: Singer Keith Urban performs during pre-race prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Getty Images
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 15: Singer Keith Urban performs during pre-race prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Getty Images
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 15: Singer Keith Urban performs during pre-race prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Getty Images
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 15: Singer Keith Urban performs during pre-race prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Getty Images
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 15: Singer Keith Urban performs during pre-race prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Car owner Michael Waltrip had some anxious moments waiting for McDowell to get out of the car.
"Just from the time it stopped flipping until we saw Michael come out, it seemed like forever," Waltrip said. "That was an amazing crash."
Qualifying was delayed for more than an hour while track officials made temporary repairs to the wall. After qualifying, a 20-foot section of the SAFER barrier was replaced.
"With the initial hit and everything that happened after, I'm real happy he walked away," said Carl Edwards, who qualified second in a run before McDowell's accident. "I'm surprised he's not hurt in any way. That's a testament to the safety equipment."
McDowell made his Cup debut last week at Martinsville. A developmental driver for Michael Waltrip Racing, he was promoted to the Cup level to fill a hole in the lineup created when Dale Jarrett retired.
The 23-year-old McDowell had a decent run - he finished 26th - but drew the ire of several veterans for not moving out of the way and holding them up. McDowell has just four career starts in the Nationwide Series, and most of his experience is in ARCA.
Based on owner points, McDowell will start 40th in the backup car for the Samsung 400 on Sunday.
McDowell appeared to be slightly limping when he first got out of the car, but he said he felt better after walking around a bit. He said he was aware of what was going on while his car tumbled down the track.
"I should have, but I didn't close my eyes. I just kind of rode it out," he said. "It wasn't a fun ride, that's for sure. I stand here with a smile on my face because I'm fortunate."
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2008-04-04 19:05:01
