NASCAR considers neurological baseline tests

[dpkimmel2001]

Personally I had thought before the Earnhardt announcement that this would have been a procedure that was already in place but I'm glad to hear that something good may come out of all of this. It's too bad that NASCAR always has to be reactive to these situations rather than proactive. Saw this today on espn.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR is reviewing with its medical experts all aspects of how it deals with concussions, including baseline testing that the IndyCar Series and other contact sports use.

For former Sprint Cup driver Steve Park, it can't come soon enough.

Park suffered a massive brain injury in a 2001 Nationwide Series crash at Darlington. He took the ImPACT baseline test in 2003 on the recommendation of NASCAR physician Dr. Jerry Petty after suffering a second concussion.

Because Park never had a test before that for comparison, there was no way to determine the full extent of his injury. He has wondered for years why NASCAR hasn't made the test a part of its preseason health exam.

"I am a big proponent in NASCAR that the ImPACT test, if it was part of your physical exam as a driver and you had it at the liaison office at every track, if you did get hurt during testing, qualifying or practice you could easily take the test (again) in 20 or 30 minutes and they could have a competent evaluation if you're hurt or not,'' Park told ESPN.com.

Complete story here.

 

[dpkimmel2001]

Also, I saw this about Earnhardt Jr. visiting a concussion expert at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center yesterday.

From jayski.

Earnhardt Jr. visits concussion experts: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. met with renowned concussion specialists at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's sports medicine concussion program Tuesday. Earnhardt was not given medical clearance to participate in this past Saturday's Sprint Cup race at Charlotte Motor Speedway or this week's race at Kansas after suffering multiple concussions over the past six weeks. He was accompanied to Pittsburgh by NASCAR primary physician Dr. Jerry Petty as a part of the original rehabilitation plan that was put in place last week. Earnhardt met with Dr. Michael Collins, the executive director of the concussion program that helped developed the ImPACT baseline test used in the IndyCar series and other contact sports.

 

[Zerkfitting]

Baseline tests sound like a good plan.

I wonder how retired drivers are doing?