5/15/2007

Enge to Return

Injured driver Tomas Enge will return to the cockpit for this weekend's ALMS race in Utah.   Enge suffered numerous injuries in a crash while leading the GT2 class for Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing in St. Petersburg.   He's been on the mend for six weeks.
"I didn't know what to expect and was pretty nervous a few days before the test," Enge said.   "But things went fine.  The first couple of laps I wanted to start slowly and build up speed.   But I really couldn't hold myself back."My left hand is still a little weak but I am training quite a lot everyday," he added. "Once I get into the rhythm I will get better and better.  For me, it is like the start of a new season.
I am going to try and get back the things that I used to handle without any trouble." A shattered left elbow was the most serious of Enge's injuries.   He also suffered a contused lung, cracked ribs and severe bruising in the crash at St. Petersburg.
At the time, he wasn't sure when he would be cleared to return to racing but started working immediately toward a goal of being back by the 24 Hours of Le Mans. As soon as he saw that his first goal was within reach, he worked even harder to accelerate his return. "This has been my personal goal, this and the 24 Hours of Le Mans," Enge said. "The rehab went very, very well and was very hopeful I would be able to drive the car at Utah.  I am sure that my determination to get back was a big help in my recovery. I did everything that I could have done."
The next round of the American Le Mans Series is the Utah Grand Prix, set for 5:05 p.m. MT on Saturday, May 19 from Miller Motorsports Park near Salt Lake City.  CBS Sports will air the race at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 20.

Credit motorsports.com for the quote.