Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Manning to miss Sunday’s IRL finale

Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004 | 9:48 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.

Darren Manning, who was injured in an accident during qualifying earlier this month at California Speedway, will not compete in Sunday's Indy Racing League season finale at Texas Motor Speedway on the advice of the series' medical staff.

Manning suffered a minor compression fracture of the sixth and seventh thoracic vertebrae, a slight concussion and a bruised back in the accident and sat out the Oct. 3 race. After a follow-up examination on Monday, Dr. Trammell said Manning's injury is not considered serious but he advised the driver to refrain from racing for two more weeks to ensure a complete recovery.

"Darren has a full range of movement and very little discomfort, but given the physical demands and high speeds experienced in this sport, it is my opinion that he should sit this one out and give it a chance to heal completely for a three-week period," Trammell said.

Manning, 29, posted eight top-10 finishes in 14 starts in the No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing entry and is 11th in IRL points with one race remaining.

"It is a shame to end the season in this manner," Manning said. "I feel really good, but I will certainly abide by the doctor's recommendations. I feel badly for my crew who worked so hard this year and we all would have liked to have had a chance to end the season on a better note.

"It's a bit of a let down, but at the same time I know that I have a lot to look forward to as the Target team prepares for the 2005 IndyCar Series season."

Team owner Chip Ganassi said Tuesday that he would not field the No. 10 Toyota with a backup driver in Sunday's Chevy 500.

"Darren Manning has already proved this season that he has the talent and drive that we expected from him," Ganassi said. "Target Chip Ganassi Racing has the utmost confidence in his abilities and we are very much looking forward to having a very strong 2005 season with him as the driver of the number10 Toyota G Force.

"Darren has nothing more to prove this year and we would certainly not want to take any undo risks with his health. We will not be putting another driver in the number10 Toyota G Force in his place for this race as we feel that it is unnecessary."

BRACK TO TEST: IRL driver Kenny Brack, who was seriously injured in a crash one year ago in the season finale at Texas Motor Speedway, said he would test next month with Rahal Letterman Race before deciding whether to make a comeback in the IRL.

"My future plan is to get in a car again sometime in November ... and evaluate how my condition is at this moment," Brack said Tuesday.

"The thing is, I hadn't planned to stop racing at this point; I had planned a few more years to be active as a driver because I feel that I'm very competitive still ... and I still feel I have race wins in me and, obviously, I want to continue. At the same time, I'm not going to force the issue unless I feel that I am ready and can be competitive."

Brack, 38, suffered broken bones in his back, ribs, legs and ankles after his car got airborne and hit the catch fence in the 2003 IRL season finale.

WALKER TO ADD CAR: Walker Racing will field a second car for Canadian driver Michael Valiante in the Champ Car World Series season finale Nov. 7 in Mexico City.

Team owner Derrick Walker said he hoped to be able to expand to a two-car team on a full-time basis in 2005, with Valiante teaming with current driver Mario Haberfeld.

"We've been following Michael's career for several years now and he's a most impressive young driver," Walker said. "It's been a difficult time for a young driver to break into the ranks of Champ Car and we're extremely pleased to have Michael in one of our cars for Mexico City.

"Hopefully, it will be a good weekend for him and help us finalize the plans we have to run him as part of a full-season, two-car effort in 2005."

Valiante, 24, finished second in the 2002 Toyota Atlantic Championship and third in 2003, winning three races each season. He served as a test driver this season for RuSPORT in the Champ Car World Series.

SPRINTS RETURN: The Orleans Hotel and Casino USAC Sprint Car and Midget Nationals, which was rained out in April, returns to The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Saturday night.

The racing card will feature the USAC Valvoline Western Sprint Car Series, USAC Western Midget Car Series and the USAC Ford Focus Midget Car Series. The Sprint Car and Midgets will compete in 40-lap main events while the Ford Focus Midgets will stage a 25-lap feature. Also on the card are the Western Racing Association Midgets and Sprints.

Spectator gates open at 4 p.m., qualifying begins at 4:30 and heat race are scheduled to start at 7.