Injured IRL racers Tony Kanaan and Scott Dixon face a race against time to make the 2003 Indianapolis 500.
Kanaan and Dixon clashed at the last IRL round at Motegi and both suffered wrist injuries. Now both look certain to at best miss the opening days of Indy testing and are extremely doubtful for Pole Day on May 10.
Kanaan will have brace fitted to his injured wrist and then faces a karting test to prove his fitness to IRL doctors. Should the Brazilian fail he will miss the 500 completely. Kanaan's possible absence is another major blow to the fledgling Andretti-Green team after it was revealed that Kanaan's team-mate Dario Franchitti will miss the 500 and perhaps a further 4 races on the IRL calendar (MOTORSPORTFORUM 23rd April). The Scot injured his back in a motorcycle accident earlier this month.
Target Chip Ganassi racer Dixon is thought to have a better chance of making the Indy 500 but as yet nothing has been confirmed. A team spokesman commented: "The latest report marks a possible return for the first week of May, but it will be a week or so before we know for sure."
The injuries to Dixon and Kanaan have created an opportunity at two top IRL teams for the 500. Robby Gordon is already tipped to replace Franchitti at Indianapolis and there is likely to be a scramble as out-of-work drivers try to secure one of the vacant seats at two of the IRL's strongest teams.
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