Schmidt Again in Serious Crash

Indy Racing League driver Sam Schmidt was in critical condition Thursday after crashing during practice at Walt Disney World Speedway.

Schmidt, 35, was coming out of a turn when he lost control and the left rear of his car hit the wall, said IRL spokesman Eric Powell.

Schmidt, who scored his first IRL victory last year, was practicing for the season-opening Indy 200.

He was airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center and being evaluated for a spinal injury after losing feeling in his legs, said hospital spokesman Joe Brown.

“They don’t know how compromised the spine is, if it’s a compression-type injury or a fracture,” Brown said.

Doctors said Schmidt was alert and responding to their questions.

Schmidt was severely injured in the IRL Mall.com 500 in October, breaking both feet in a collision with Scott Sharp at the Texas Motor Speedway.

Part of his right big toe was amputated during a subsequent operation.

Schmidt, who drives for Treadway Racing, was fifth in the IRL series standings last season.