Robert Kubica injured in rally crash

[EDwardo]

Formula One driver Robert Kubica has suffered serious injuries after crashing a car during a rally in Italy -- his Lotus Renault team have confirmed.

The 26-year-old Pole lost control of his Skoda Fabia car at the beginning of the Ronde de Andorra rally near the town of Testico, causing the vehicle to leave the road at high speed and hit the wall of a building.

Kubica was taken to the Hospital Santa Corona di Pietra Ligure, with Italian media sources reporting he suffered multiple injuries to his arm and hand.

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/motorsport/02/06/f1.crash/?hpt=T2

Doesn't look like Kubica will start the season in Bahrain on March 13.

[Fio1]

His F1 career is over. According to news out of Italy, they amputated an arm. So sad. :thumdown:

[Insomniac]

Official Update: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/06022011/23/updae-robert-kubica-condition.html

Says he's still in surgery.

[racer2c]

Horrible news. :(

[Andrew Longman]

Crap. Compared to my youth, we take safety so much for granted.

[devilmaster]

Damn.... Hopefully early reports are false... He had the talent.... :(

[devilmaster]

post accident news report:

kfmFJeJ31uU

[SteveH]

just read that nothing was amputated - hope so

regardless, his career is probably over or at best will go in an entirely different direction

[Fio1]

Italian press jumped the gun; that was the first thing I read/ saw. Still in surgery.

[Elmo T]

:(

[stroker]

The Poles can't get a break, can they? Jeebus.

[cameraman]

Looks like his leg is broken too.


After undergoing extensive medical checks this morning, Robert Kubica has been diagnosed with multiple fractures to his right arm, leg and hand. He is currently undergoing surgery at the Santa Corona Hospital in Pietra Ligure.

[Hard Driver]

Sounds like he will have a long road back and may have really messed up his arm. Considering the risk of death these guys take, I guess it could be worse. But this might be the end of his career.

[Tifosi24]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9388940.stm

This article says a lot that the other articles have said. The depressing part about this for Kubica is the fact that his right arm already has screws and plates in it from a previous car accident several years ago. If Massa can come back from his injuries, hopefully Kubica can do that same.

[Easy]

Surgery a "success" but they won't know for a few days what the long term prognosis on the hand is. Surgeon thinks it could be a year of rehab on the hand which had already been reconstructed with titanium bolts from a road crash in 03.

http://www.blogf1.it/2011/02/06/incidente-al-rally-grave-kubica/

[TravelGal]

Many prayers. I am hoping for the best possible outcome.

[BarillaGirl]

No amputations, but Twitter is abuzz with prayers, good wishes, and people calling him stupid for crashing in a club race. What a gomer. Racers race, and "crash" is never on their to-do list. Força Kubica!

[Indy]

Oh, this is sickening. What a talent. I had the feeling this might be his year.

I suppose now we should just pray for him to have normal function.

[Methanolandbrats]

Hard to believe F1 contracts allow off-season hillbilly racing like this.

[opinionated ow]

Hard to believe F1 contracts allow off-season hillbilly racing like this.

Whilst it is horrendous that this occurred, I appreciate the fact that he is allowed to, just like the old days when Clark et al would race F1, F2 and F3/Junior in a day.

[Methanolandbrats]

Whilst it is horrendous that this occurred, I appreciate the fact that he is allowed to, just like the old days when Clark et al would race F1, F2 and F3/Junior in a day.

I agree that in a pure motorsport sense it is cool they do this, but I was just talking about the cubic money F1 teams have tied up in the these guys.

[Fio1]

He is lucky to be alive, a few inches more to the left and the guard rail would have gone into his chest....Crazy accident, having the guard rail pierce through the fire wall like that.

He will be out for a year. Too bad. Hope he makes a full recovery.

[Tifosi24]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89323

A more in-depth discussion of Kubica's injuries. It is actually a rather graphic description at times. It appears that the Italian media didn't really overreact at the beginning since it appears that Kubica sustained a partial amputation of the hand. The good news is that his hand is responding well after an initial seven hour surgery.

[Elmo T]

Beyond the talk of keeping his hand... given the extent of his injuries and the extrication time, he is very lucky to be alive.

And did I follow the news reports correctly, this was a previously injured extremity? Existing pins/rods or something like that?

[cameraman]

He has both elbow and shoulder fractures to attend to once they are certain that blood flow has been fully restored to his hand. Sounds like he lost a massive amount of blood
Kubica lost a lot of blood, that is why the first hour was critical. He was unconscious and could not be operated on when he arrived at the hospital. He needed many transfusions during the stabilising process as well as during the very long surgery.

Sad thing is he wasn't even on a stage when he crashed. He was driving in-between stages.

[Insomniac]

Sad thing is he wasn't even on a stage when he crashed. He was driving in-between stages.

I don't follow rally racing, does that mean he wasn't even racing?

[cameraman]

Actually that report was wrong.:flame: It was during a stage and here is the in-car camera from the car following Kubica.

ALbxMiwf4nw

[Insomniac]

It's kind of confusing. If he was driving on the left, how did his right side get injured so badly? And also, crazy that the other guy was uninjured in that case too.

[cameraman]

The guard rail speared the car. Just about cut it in half.:shakehead

[Elmo T]

Watch the guard rail at 2:30 (right side) and you can see how this happened.

PennDOT has spent the past years fixing this very problem. Ends of the rails are curled back now - way back - and the first posts are all now wood. I've seen some of these get hit - the guard rail just rolls right back.

Some also have safety caps - see here (http://tywkiwdbi.blogspot.com/2010/09/endcap-on-highway-guard-rail.html).

And kudos to the guys for stopping to render aid. :thumbup:

[Insomniac]

The guard rail speared the car. Just about cut it in half.:shakehead


Watch the guard rail at 2:30 (right side) and you can see how this happened.

PennDOT has spent the past years fixing this very problem. Ends of the rails are curled back now - way back - and the first posts are all now wood. I've seen some of these get hit - the guard rail just rolls right back.

Some also have safety caps - see here (http://tywkiwdbi.blogspot.com/2010/09/endcap-on-highway-guard-rail.html).

And kudos to the guys for stopping to render aid. :thumbup:

:eek: That is horrifying to think about something there to help you could also do so much harm. I've also seen the beginning of the rail buried in some places.

[Elmo T]

I've also seen the beginning of the rail buried in some places.

Burying rail = Joie Chitwood/Dukes of Hazzard time. That is going away too in many places.

[Insomniac]

Burying rail = Joie Chitwood/Dukes of Hazzard time. That is going away too in many places.

That was my thought. It prevents what that pictured showed, but someone is possibly getting launched into the area the guard rail was intended to keep you out of in the first place.

[Indy]

Looking at that course, you have to wonder how long Rally can continue.

[SteveH]

Lots of armco and a fair amount of pipe railing as well. Have to think that could be worse.

[Tifosi24]

Watch the guard rail at 2:30 (right side) and you can see how this happened.

PennDOT has spent the past years fixing this very problem. Ends of the rails are curled back now - way back - and the first posts are all now wood. I've seen some of these get hit - the guard rail just rolls right back.

Some also have safety caps - see here (http://tywkiwdbi.blogspot.com/2010/09/endcap-on-highway-guard-rail.html).

And kudos to the guys for stopping to render aid. :thumbup:

It's always great to see guys helping out. I was thinking about getting into rallying about 10 years ago, and if I remember from what guys said it is your responsibility, either written or otherwise, to help someone in a serious accident. That being said, the team that came up on the accident would have known straightaway that the stage would be canceled given the severity of the accident its placement in the stage.

I am just speculating, but after watching the in-car, it seems possible that he touched the inside wall on the apex which sent him too over to the right and into the guardrail.

[The Doctor]

I am just speculating, but after watching the in-car, it seems possible that he touched the inside wall on the apex which sent him too over to the right and into the guardrail.

Confirmed by Gerber in this article.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89327


"We knew the surface was slippery because of the humidity and we were ready," Gerber told Gazzetta dello Sport. "After skidding, the car leaned against the guard rail and pushed it outwards. Then it crashed against the following guard rail."

[extramundane]

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/1926/kubica3.png

Good lord. I hesitate to think how much worse that could have turned out.

[racer2c]

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/1926/kubica3.png

Good lord. I hesitate to think how much worse that could have turned out.

:eek:

[Indy]

Who amaze me most in rally are the co-drivers. Imagine braving that sort of danger, and having the car controlled by someone else.

[Insomniac]

Autoblog linked a video of a simulation of the accident.

YE8GUwybi5k

[High Sided]

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/1926/kubica3.png

Good lord. I hesitate to think how much worse that could have turned out.
"update" looks like they saved his hand:thumbup:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/renault/8311483/Robert-Kubica-rally-crash-Polish-driver-ready-to-fight-for-his-comeback-Renault-have-announced.html
eerie :eek: i just received an email yesterday titled "i just learned how to text"
and these images were in them...
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jD-T4d9ovds/TRFfDje6XfI/AAAAAAAAGCE/mWsUAHjJeTI/s1600/Text-1.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jD-T4d9ovds/TRFgI4Vv1dI/AAAAAAAAGCQ/3ryC7hIgO6Y/s1600/Text-4.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8WSuDyYdB88/TLUL3sd1XUI/AAAAAAAAAKc/4BhXlMXGHYA/s1600/9c7ab76.jpg
http://stangsgarage.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/forum-image-uploads/stang5_0/4.JPG

[Gnam]

Those photos make me feel ill.

There is no gore, but they still seem graphic. :eek:

[High Sided]

i don't think a co-driver would have faired well. wonder why the rumble strips didn't get this guy's attention???

[devilmaster]

i don't think a co-driver would have faired well. wonder why the rumble strips didn't get this guy's attention???

The story for the suburban was that it was some 22 year old on his way to college, and he fell asleep at the wheel.

[High Sided]

caught this video on the news last night. elderly wrong way driver gets stopped by an overpass ending. stop the video at 25sec and you can see the guardrail ends onto overpass. the rail goes behind the overpass at the far end and same for the wrong way driver.
f2xdfVwZWmA

Mez_xZv8PiQ

[Anteater]

caught this video on the news last night. elderly wrong way driver gets stopped by an overpass ending.

OMG, that video clip gave me chills! :eek:I drive that stretch of I-5 all the time, and know exactly where it happened. Plus it reminded me of why I had to take away the keys to my elderly dad's pickup truck a few years ago.

Getting back to Kubica, what a horrific accident! I wish him all the best; he's one of the good guys.

[BarillaGirl]

I've been keeping up with Kubica's progress via Twitter.... but does anyone have a link to a detailed list or description of his injuries? I've seen the "reconstruction" video and the stills, but I'm interested in exactly what he broke and how they're trying to fix it.

I know you guys are the ones to ask. :)

[cameraman]

Today's surgeries covered the repair of the:

1. astragalus in his right ankle
2. the break in the neck of his right humerus
3. a second break towards the middle of the humerus.

Also the are breaks in the elbow which I'm taking to mean the radius and/or ulna as the doctor was listing it separately from the humerus.

[racer2c]

No details...but I just read an interview with Eric Boullier posted today on F1.com where he talks about Robert.
http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2011/2/11735.html

Heidfeld likely replacement.

[Indy]

Too bad, playing it safe. Must be looking to minimize damage.

[cameraman]

Playing it safe? Really who would you hire? Kimi Raikkonen is never going to lead a F1 team, ever. He is off rallying and poorly at that. Would you hire a second rookie? Hell with Petrov, Senna & Grosjean he has the wanker aspect covered. There really isn't a huge number of experienced good drivers out there.

[Methanolandbrats]

http://www.auto123.com/ArtImages/109936/Jacques-Villeneuve-inline1.JPG They need somebody who can test and works really hard :rofl:

[opinionated ow]

Playing it safe? Really who would you hire? Kimi Raikkonen is never going to lead a F1 team, ever. He is off rallying and poorly at that. Would you hire a second rookie? Hell with Petrov, Senna & Grosjean he has the wanker aspect covered. There really isn't a huge number of experienced good drivers out there.

Briscoe...Toyota used to rave about how good a test driver he was before they sent him off to break his back.

[Gnam]

If only Danica weren't scheduled to be in the "Most Important Race in History"...

[Indy]

I would hire the Champ Car Seb.

[Don Quixote]

guardian article (http:/http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/feb/11/renault-robert-kubica-rally-crash/)


Morelli said: "When he arrived [in hospital] he had only one litre of blood. 'Call the boy's parents,' the doctors told me on Sunday afternoon. I felt a chill in my spine."

:eek:

[Tifosi24]

guardian article (http:/http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/feb/11/renault-robert-kubica-rally-crash/)



:eek:

That is really scary how close it really was. He is truly lucky. I really hope he can make it back to the grid.

[BarillaGirl]

If they rigged up something with hand controls, maybe Zanardi would want to give it a go. The Kubica-specific Renault has to be a better F1 car than that dog of a Williams car he was saddled with. (Was that '98 or '99?)

I don't know if he's even still racing.... I'm just dreaming..... :\

[pchall]

Zanardi raced in the Italian touring car series with hand controls for a time. Haven't seen his name in any results for a long time now, so he must have hung up his helmet for good.

As for Kubica, that crash picture looks awful. He's lucky to be alive. That car is a bigger mess than my poor little GTi after that spinning S10 almost killed us.

[TedN]

I believe Zanardi is now focused on making Italy’s cycling squad for the 2012 London Paralympic Games.

http://cdn0.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net/2009/09/15/1/was1124542_600.jpg

[opinionated ow]

Zanardi raced in the Italian touring car series with hand controls for a time. Haven't seen his name in any results for a long time now, so he must have hung up his helmet for good.
He was racing in the European and then World Touring Car Championship. Retired to try and qualify for the London Paralympics.

[cameraman]

2/22 report from Kubica's MD.


Q. You performed the surgery on his hand – what more can you tell us about that…
IR: He can move his fingers slightly and has a little bit of sensitivity already in his hand. What is very important is that there is no sign of infection, which is the main concern.

[High Sided]

:thumbup:

[NismoZ]

I recall when Jim Hurtubise had both of his hands badly burned in a wreck at The Mile and the doctors told him after grafts his hands would be pretty much in a permanent position so he said to just make it so he could grip a steering wheel. Then, of course, there was Mel Kenyon who pretty much had a hand destroyed by fire (Langhorne, I think) but a pin and swivel arrangement on the steering wheel gave him many more seasons of success. Hope things work out this time, too.

[cameraman]

Those guys didn't have two dozen buttons and knobs on the steering wheel...

[NismoZ]

Oh, those guys played a whole different ballgame, that's for sure. Can't say it was any easier for them, though. All I know is, I'd rather be retelling stories of great comebacks from serious injury than posting in an RIP topic.

[Don Quixote]

Kubica out of hospital.

http://www.itv.com/formula1/news/2011/4/recovering-kubica-finally-leaves-hospital-3001/

[stroker]

I sure hope he recovers fully but I'll be very surprised if he ever gets back to where he was in terms of driving ability... :(

[pchall]

Surgery a "success" but they won't know for a few days what the long term prognosis on the hand is. Surgeon thinks it could be a year of rehab on the hand which had already been reconstructed with titanium bolts from a road crash in 03.

http://www.blogf1.it/2011/02/06/incidente-al-rally-grave-kubica/

It takes years to really recover from injuries like that. Good luck.

[TravelGal]

It does take a long time but he's being moved to ah, somewhere, forgot where. AutoWeak had an update sometime last week. Read it, forgot it, but it seemed relatively hopeful. One side is A-OK. The other side is like 3 different rehabs. Needless to say, they are not commenting on a "timeframe for return."

[cameraman]

Robert Kubica slipped on some ice yesterday and refractured his right leg:shakehead

[Spicoli]

Robert Kubica slipped on some ice yesterday and refractured his right leg:shakehead

Insert pollock joke.

[extramundane]

Insert pollock joke.

http://i.imgur.com/tNdme.jpg
Pictured: Pollock, Joke.

[Methanolandbrats]

:D

[Gnam]

:rofl:

[Spicoli]

http://i.imgur.com/tNdme.jpg
Pictured: Pollock, Joke.

Nice. :thumbup:

[Rogue Leader]

Robert Kubica slipped on some ice yesterday and refractured his right leg:shakehead

If it was raining vagina he would get hit with a dick.

[Indy]

http://i.imgur.com/tNdme.jpg
Pictured: Pollock, Joke.

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Post of the year so far. :laugh:

And regarding Kubica, when does one begin to wonder if God is trying to send a message?

[BarillaGirl]

Robert Kubica slipped on some ice yesterday and refractured his right leg:shakehead

So, what you're saying is, WALKING is just as dangerous as participating in WRC? Or is it that WRC is as safe as taking a walk? ;)

Crap, I hope Zanardi phones Kubica and gives him a little hope. :(

[SteveH]

And regarding Kubica, when does one begin to wonder if God is trying to send a message?


WItGK4ZwlVc

[cameraman]

He is being sent back to surgery. It isn't minor:shakehead

[Pilgrims Drop]

Guess who's driving again...
Ca9AxUj0WG4

[Easy]

Kubica won the club rally he contested which is no mean feat after such a layoff, even for a world class talent. Even more impressive -and not good for his return to F1- he did it mostly using one hand.


The former BMW and Renault driver "does not have full mobility of his right arm", said the report.

Indeed, footage of the minor Italian rally shows that while Kubica is able to steer a car with both hands, the movement in his right arm and hand is obviously limited.

He held the winning trophy and champagne aloft, and drank water from a bottle, only with his left arm.

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-robert-kubica-wins-rally-but-extent-of-injury-revealed/

[cameraman]

Oops

Twitter picture => http://t.co/G3NSajjp

Kubica's in the ditch. No injuries except for the car.

[Agip27]

Check Autosprint.it for more pics. :saywhat:

[Insomniac]

Robert Kubica has driven a Formula 1 car for the first time since the horrific rally accident that curtailed his career before the 2011 season.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/40179662

I'd have my doubts he'd make it back into F1 after the accident and long time away, but :thumbup: regardless.

[SteveH]

a very recent photograph

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DBJ1F35XUAAJxGE.jpg:large

Good luck Robert :thumbup: