GA_googleAddSlot("ca-pub-1197233282945943", "Star_Sports_Skyscraper");

Sports

Published: Sunday October 4, 2009 MYT 10:20:00 AM

Glock withdraws from Japanese GP

SUZUKA, Japan (AP): Toyota's Timo Glock was forced to pull out of the Japanese Grand Prix despite working until the early hours of Sunday to recover from a leg wound sustained in a crash during qualifying.

Glock collided front-on with a tire barrier at high speed during Saturday's qualifying, suffering a deep cut on his left calf and minor back injuries.

"We tried to do everything with physiotherapy," Glock said. "The doctor worked until two o'clock to try to get fluid out of the leg.

"I could just walk a bit better, but at the end, this morning we had to realize it won't work, the cut is too big."

Glock's withdrawal left Toyota with only one car in the team's home grand prix, and came at a bad time for the German, who is eager to prove his worth to Toyota and rival teams as he seeks a 2010 contract.

"I'm the last person who would not want to drive a Formula One car, but we have to be realistic," Glock said. "It would be quite difficult for me to do anything near the full race.

"It's quite a big cut across the leg, five to six centimeters long. They stitched it yesterday. The problem is I just can't move the leg because of the stitches."

Glock, who matched his F1 career best by finishing second in the previous weekend's Singapore Grand Prix, said the crash was his mistake. The German oversteered coming out of the final chicane before the start-finish straight and, rather than slowing, thought he could continue at speed and still make the final turn without contacting the tire wall.

He remained in the car for almost ten minutes, as medics raced to the scene, and many feared for Glock's condition.

"I saw a piece of aluminum between my legs, and I hoped my leg was OK. In that moment I just couldn't feel anything. I moved around my leg and I could feel a bit," Glock said.

"When I tried to walk out I saw the overall was already covered, the color had changed to red, and I thought it was better to stay in and wait until the doctor comes."

He said there should be no question over his availability for the Brazilian Grand Prix in two weeks' time.

"Its just a question of two or three days before I can stretch the leg better and it should be no problem."

  • E-mail this story
  • Print this story

Sports Poll