Guerrero Is Critical but Stable After Indianapolis Crash During Tire Tests

Roberto Guerrero, runner-up in this year’s Indianapolis 500, was in critical but stable condition Thursday night after crashing into a wall during a practice run at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, officials said.

Guerrero, 29, struck the second-turn wall at the 2 1/2-mile oval while on the final lap of a Goodyear tire-testing session.

The right-front tire of the car came loose and struck the Colombian driver on the head, leaving tire tracks on Guerrero’s helmet, said Vince Granatelli, owner of the team for which Guerrero drives.

Guerrero was admitted to the neuro-critical intensive care unit at Methodist Hospital. Officials said Guerrero was unconscious and breathing with the help of a ventilator, but was able to move his extremities.

“His brain has been shaken,” said Dr. Michael Turner, a neurosurgeon. “The next 72 hours will be critical. The best thing right now is that he is moving all of his extremities. There is not enough bleeding to require surgery at this time.”

Dr. Steve Olvey, Championship Auto Racing Teams medical director, said the next three days will be the most crucial in Guerrero’s recovery.

“It will be 24 to 48 hours before we can say much about what to anticipate over the next few days,” said Olvey, who expected Guerrero’s condition to remain stable overnight. “He has suffered a moderate to severe blow to the head.”

Turner said any possible brain damage might not be discovered for three or four months.

“It is far too soon to determine that,” he said. “That answer will not be known for three to four months. The longer he stays unconscious, the greater the chance of that.”