Car Owner Expecting Guerrero Back in 1988

Roberto Guerrero’s progress since emerging from a two-week-long coma has been so rapid in the last five days that car owner Vince Granatelli expects the 28-year-old Colombian to be racing again next season.

“Some reports I have read have distressed me, particularly those that seemed negative about Roberto’s recovery,” Granatelli said. “I am sure he will be driving my car next year, I hope as early as the first race.”

Guerrero was injured Sept. 10 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after completing the final lap of a tire test. He was entering the second turn when something broke and the car hit the wall. The right front wheel flew off at impact and hit Guerrero in the helmet.

Dr. Steve Olvey, medical director for Championship Auto Racing Teams and Guerrero’s physician at Indianapolis Methodist Hospital, concurred with Granatelli.

“I think I’m safe in saying that if he wants to drive a race car again, he will, in the not-too-distant future,” Olvey said.

Guerrero was unconscious for two weeks.

“There were stories that Guerrero might need two or three years to recover and that frightened many of his family and friends,” Granatelli said. “They were absolutely not true. His recovery in the last few days since he awakened has been remarkable. He has been walking around the hospital, talking with his family and attendants, and he has been on his exercise bike for 20 minutes at a time.”

Granatelli said that Guerrero would probably be released from the hospital this weekend but will remain in Indianapolis for physical therapy.

“Naturally, Roberto and his family want to get home to California as soon as possible, but the doctors felt it would be better if he stayed close to the hospital for rehabilitation for a few weeks, at least,” Granatelli said.

Guerrero, who left Colombia four years ago to drive Indy cars in the United States, lives in San Juan Capistrano with his wife, Katie, and son Marco, who turned 2 Sept. 19.

Guerrero had won his second Indy car race the Sunday before the accident and stands third in the CART standings.

Al Unser, who won his fourth Indianapolis 500 as a replacement for the injured Danny Ongais in a Roger Penske-owned car, drove Granatelli’s car two weeks ago at Nazareth, Pa., and finished 10th after tangling with rookie driver Jeff McPherson seven laps from the finish.

“I’d like to think that we’ll have Big Al (Unser) back at Laguna Seca,” Granatelli said.

Unser, however, has been named to drive the new Porsche Indy car in its debut Oct. 11 at Laguna Seca.

“I don’t think the Porsche will be ready, and if it isn’t, Al is our man,” Granatelli said. “If he drives the Porsche, we’ll have to take a look around but we’ll be there.”