Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Schmidt expects his driver to be ready for Fontana

Wednesday, March 20, 2002 | 9:43 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

Anthony Lazzaro should get clearance from Indy Racing League doctors in time to drive in Sunday's Yamaha Indy 400 at California Speedway in Fontana, according to team owner Sam Schmidt.

Lazzaro, who drives the No. 99 Sam Schmidt Motorsports Dallara/Chevrolet, was hospitalized Sunday night after he was involved in a crash during Sunday's IRL race at Phoenix International Raceway. Upon Lazzaro's release Monday from Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, the IRL issued a statement that Lazzaro would be re-evaluated by Dr. Henry Bock before his status for this weekend's race is determined.

Schmidt, a Henderson resident, said he is "pretty confident" that Lazzaro will be cleared to drive in Sunday's race and had no plans to recruit a replacement driver.

"He's a little sore, but he's actually more comfortable in the car than out of it," Schmidt said of Lazzaro. "Anthony suffered a compression fracture (in his back) a couple of years ago at Talladega in a (NASCAR Busch Series) car, so this isn't a new injury; it's just an aggravation of an old injury.

"We had the X-rays overnighted to Indianapolis and we're just waiting for the (IRL's) doctors to evaluate them ... but I think it'll be OK."

Lazzaro was in 11th place midway through the race when he was involved in a three-car wreck with Eddie Cheever Jr. and Scott Sharp. Schmidt said the accident was triggered when the car driven by Buddy Lazier hit Lazzaro from behind.

"Phoenix was a disappointment only because we had struggled in practice and then came back and qualified 13th -- which wasn't half bad," Schmidt said. "We had another solid top-ten finish going when Buddy basically drove over (Lazzaro's) rear end."

The race is scheduled to air live in a two-and-a-half hour window beginning at 12:30 p.m. (PT) on Sunday, April 14. It will mark the first time in CART's 23-year history that one of its events will air on the Fox network.

Zanardi, who lost both of his legs in a crash during last year's race at the 1.5-mile oval in Laustiz, has been walking with the aid of artificial legs.

According to WoO officials, McCarl went to Brooke Tatnell's car and engaged in a physical confrontation with the Australian driver after the two crashed during the 21st lap of Saturday's "A" feature.

"I have been knocked out of both races (this season) from other people's mistakes. I know that stuff happens, but two-for-two is ridiculous. I hope that California Speedway is big enough that everybody can avoid running into me."