INDYCAR: Hildebrand Stumbles Into More Trouble In Texas

Rookie JR Hildebrand’s fortunes took another bizarre twist Wednesday at Texas Motor Speedway where he suffered what has been described as “an injury to his left knee."

John Sturbin | Posted June 09, 2011 Fort Worth, TX

JR Hildebrand reportedly tore his ACL at TMS, but according to the team, his rookie season will not be slowed by the injury. (Marshall Pruett)

Rookie JR Hildebrand’s star-crossed fortunes took another bizarre twist Wednesday afternoon at Texas Motor Speedway, where the 2011 Indianapolis 500 runnerup suffered what has been described as “an injury to his left knee” during a promotion for the inaugural Firestone Twin 275s.

Hildebrand was competing against IZOD IndyCar Series rival Ryan Briscoe in a “Driven by Fitness” promotion featuring a “boot camp-style obstacle course” when he bumped his left knee on the top board of a two-foot high wooden hurdle. That hurdle was the sixth and final obstacle of the competition.

Hildebrand’s knee broke the top board upon contact, and the 23-year-old Californian stumbled to the ground on a grassy lot outside the Lone Star Tower condominiums.

Hildebrand remained on the ground for several minutes catching his breath, as the outside of his left knee appeared to swell. TMS public relations staffers provided Hildebrand with some cold towels and ice from a nearby cooler to wrap the knee. Hildebrand was able to stand and walk to a nearby SUV, which reportedly transported him to the track’s Infield Care Center.

Hildebrand, driver of the No. 4 National Guard Dallara/Honda fielded by Panther Racing, did not speak with the handful of media covering the event. He was accompanied to the Infield Care Center by Panther PR rep Mike Kitchel, who could not be reached for an update Wednesday evening.

However, the following report was provided by Mike Zizzo, TMS’ vice president of media relations: “Was told JR sustained a left knee injury but will race on Saturday.”

The Firestone Twin 275s are the headline events of a weekend of night racing at TMS. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series WinStar World Casino 400 is scheduled for Friday night on the 1.5-mile quadoval.

Meanwhile, a TMS open-wheel record 30 cars have been entered for Saturday night’s Firestone Twin 275s – a pair of separate, 114-lap events that are a first run under INDYCAR sanction. There is no on-track activity scheduled for IndyCar Series teams and drivers on Thursday.

IndyCar Series regulars will practice for one-hour and 15 minutes on Friday beginning at 12:30 p.m. (CDT) before qualifying at 3:45 p.m. A final IndyCar practice is scheduled from 6:45 to 7:15 p.m. Friday. The first Twin race is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. Saturday, followed by a one-hour intermission during which a blind draw will determine the starting grid for the second Twin. That race is scheduled for 9:45 p.m.

Hildebrand became a national story on May 29 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where his Turn 4 crash on the final lap of the 100th anniversary Indy 500 opened the door for Englishman Dan Wheldon’s second career win in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” The outcome of Wednesday’s competition with Briscoe was decided by the sixth and final obstacle, on a course laid out by Sgt. Robert Johnson, owner of the Elite Boot Camp. The course included a rope climb, tractor tire flip, ramps and walls to climb, tire agility drill, low crawl pit under a net and sprint to the finish.

Briscoe’s winning time of 32.59-seconds earned him a pair of bronzed military boots from Sgt. Johnson and four-time Olympic gold-medalist Michael Johnson. Briscoe, who won the Firestone 550k here last June over Andretti Autosport teammates Danica Patrick and Marco Andretti, was cast as reluctant victor as Hildebrand hobbled away for treatment. The event was staged to showcase that drivers truly are athletes.

“We’ll have to watch the slow-mo replay, I think,” Briscoe joked after catching his breath. “It was pretty close. I think he (Hildebrand) was in front of me after the tractor (tire) tumble and then he was a bit slow jumping over the middle (obstacle) before the net (crawl)…and we were about neck-and-neck going over the last jump here.”

Ironically, Briscoe said he and Hildebrand broached the subject of an injury prior to the start of the event, played-out around 2:45 p.m. in mid-90-degree temperatures.

“Yeah, we were talking about that,” said Briscoe, driver of the No. 6 IZOD Dallara/Honda fielded by Team Penske. “I was more worried about that first obstacle, the rope climb and then jumping off the top. I said, ‘Let’s not break an ankle here.’ But he sort of whacked (his knee) on the wood. I’m sure he’ll be OK, but you get a competition between two drivers and we’re not going to go 50 percent.”

Hildebrand, who includes boxing and MMA training in his fitness regimen, trains at the Indianapolis gym PitFit, which specializes in training drivers and crew members in motorsports. He enjoys fitness competitions such as marathons and distance biking.

Briscoe, a 29-year-old Australian, went wire-to-wire to earn his first victory at TMS last June. He became the sixth IndyCar Series driver to win here from the pole.

Briscoe was accompanied by Penske teammate Will Power, a two-time winner this season in the No. 12 Verizon Dallara/Honda. The series points-leader, Power declined to participate because of a sensitive lower back. Also attending was Eddie Gossage, TMS president, who conducted a pre-event interview session with the contestants and guests.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

John Sturbin

MORE BY THIS AUTHOR

NHRA: Massey Returns With DSR
Spencer Massey, the NHRA’s Rookie of the Year in 2009, replaces…
CUP: Q&A - General Motors’ Terry Dolan
Terry Dolan, manager of Chevrolet Racing, discusses the company's…
NHRA: Austin Coil Splits With John Force
Hall of Fame crew chief Austin Coil says his resignation from John…