
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 5, 1993                   TAG: 9305050045
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

WALLACE OUT OF THE HOSPITAL HEALING PROCESS COULD ALLOW DRIVER BACK AT SEARS

Rusty Wallace walked out of a Birmingham, Ala., hospital Tuesday and headed to Indianapolis for more work on his broken left wrist, while his race team began three days of testing at Sears Point International Raceway with road racer Scott Sharp.

Wallace was smiling and shaking hands as he left Carraway Medical Center in Birmingham at about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, but his left arm was in a sling and he had a nasty-looking contusion and bruises around his right eye.

Wallace, 36, had further surgery Tuesday afternoon in Indianapolis by motorsports orthopedic surgeon Dr. Terry Trammell, who inserted a pin lengthwise in his wrist to promote healing and allow use of the wrist.

"He can use the wrist effectively within a week and will be able to drive shortly thereafter," Trammell told team publicist Tom Roberts. "I fully expect him to drive to some extent in the next NASCAR race" on May 16 at Sears Point (Calif.) International Raceway.

Trammell, who has patched up the broken bones of many an Indy car driver, fitted Wallace with a splint-type cast that he will wear for about five days. It also has a functional brace to allow movement, Roberts said.

The operation was performed at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, where Wallace will remain overnight before returning to Charlotte later today.

Wallace broke his wrist and received a concussion when he flipped nine times at the end of a wild final two laps in the Winston 500. Wallace was bumped from behind by Dale Earnhardt and was beginning to flip as he crossed the start-finish line for sixth place.

"I'm temporarily sidelined, but I want everyone to know I'll be back stronger and more determined than ever to win the 1993 championship," Wallace said in a statement released by Roberts. "Scott and [crew chief] Buddy [Parrott] assured me that everything is going great out on the West Coast and I know everything is being done from this end. I can't say enough about the outstanding care I received from the staff at Carraway Medical Center in Birmingham and Dr. Trammell."

Wallace flew from Birmingham to Indianapolis in a private jet owned by Roger Penske, a part owner of Wallace's stock car team. During the day, he twice called Parrott in California for an update on his team's test, which continues today and Thursday.

Sharp, 25, a regular in the SCCA Trans Am series, will stand by to relieve Wallace should he need help in the Save Mart 300 road race at the northern California road course. Wallace won there in 1990.

Keywords:
AUTO RACING

by CNB