‘Bruised’ Glock will test on Thursday
The 26-year-old spent Sunday night in hospital in Ludwigshafen for precautionary checks after his accident in the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim. He returned home on Monday morning for rest and further medical tests. Those tests have confirmed Timo suffered no injuries or concussion.
Therefore he has been given the all clear to return to the cockpit on Thursday before he competes in the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Immediately after Timo's incident at Hockenheim, an investigation to determine the cause began at the track and continued at the factory. This has been traced to the right rear toelink/trackrod.
After studying data from the car, it has been determined that there were no exceptional circumstances immediately before the incident and Timo running wide at the last corner on that lap was not the cause.
The team is now conducting a thorough analysis of the loading data from earlier in the race to determine if an event occurred which caused this. All available evidence is being studied to find the cause.
Q & A with Timo Glock
How are you feeling?
I am fine. I spent Sunday night in the hospital but only so the doctors could complete their checks. They ran x-rays and an MRI scan and found no problems at all, so I went home on Monday morning for some rest and more checks with my doctor. It was a really hard impact and my back hurt immediately after I got out of the car but now it is fine. Actually, it looked worse on TV than it really was.
Can you talk us through the incident?
I was running well and looking set for the points but I ran a little wide on the last corner of lap 35. That wasn't a major problem because most cars were doing that at some stage in the race but I just felt the back of the car go. I tried to catch it but I was not able to. I had no control at that point and was just a passenger. When I saw it later on TV I could see something broke in the right rear suspension.
Are you worried by what happened to you?
I'm not at all concerned because I trust the team completely. We are all working together to improve the car performance and reliability.
What are your plans now?
I have spent a little time at home relaxing and now I am ready to drive again. Physically I feel absolutely fine so I am looking forward to getting back in the car on Thursday. We will be preparing for the Hungarian Grand Prix so it is an important test and I am pleased I can contribute. Then of course I will be racing in Hungary where I expect the same strong performance level and hopefully a points finish. Toyota PR
07/22/08 (GMM) Timo Glock on Tuesday said he is wearing only a "light bruise" on his back following his big crash at Hockenheim that left him hospitalized 48 hours ago.
Toyota's German driver told Bild newspaper that his overnight stay at a local hospital was routine only, and he expects to be back in action at the Jerez test on Thursday.
"I am well," he is quoted as saying. "I just slept and I have only a light bruise on my back."
Glock, 26, clarifies that he never lost consciousness after the shunt, and that he only stayed in the cockpit for a time because he was winded.
"Before the impact I thought, 'here it comes', but it didn't hurt at all. I saw the replay on the hospital television, it looked violent but I have put it past me.
"I have full confidence in my Toyota and could drive already today. In the factory they are looking over the car and will find the cause.
"I will make the journey to Jerez for Thursday as planned, and in Hungary I will be flat out again!" Glock added.
07/21/08 (GMM) Timo Glock was discharged from hospital on Monday afternoon.
The Toyota driver spent Sunday night under observation following his violent backwards crash during the German grand prix at Hockenheim.
His manager, Hans Bernd Kamps, confirmed the 26-year-old German is not injured, and the news agency SID said Glock is likely to test at Jerez later this week.
According to FIA procedures, however, he will need to be passed fit by doctors in Budapest in two weeks before he can take part in the official sessions for the Hungarian grand prix.
"We are extremely confident Timo will be fit for Hungary," Toyota team boss Tadashi Yamashina said.
"All the checks have shown he is fine so we are not worried about that," he added.
07/20/08 (GMM) Timo Glock will spend the night in hospital, but he should be fit to return to the wheel of the Toyota when the championship resumes in Hungary in two weeks, team boss Takashi Yamashina said on Sunday.
Glock, the team's German driver, crashed heavily at Hockenheim during the German grand prix and was flown to a nearby hospital for checks.
The X-rays showed no injuries and the 26-year-old does not have concussion, Yamashina said in a statement.
"He will be kept in hospital overnight as is normal procedure in these situations," the Japanese added.
"We are extremely confident Timo will be fit for the Hungarian grand prix. Naturally he is a bit shaken by the accident but all the checks have shown he is fine so we are not worried about that," Yamashina said.
Q&A with Tadashi Yamashina, Chairman and Team Principal
First of all, what is Timo's condition?
Timo is fine, thankfully, and that is the most important thing. Obviously it was a heavy impact and he did not get out of the car immediately, so he was taken to the circuit medical centre, as is the normal procedure in these incidents. There was no sign of any injury but he was taken from there to a hospital for further precautionary checks, including X-rays. He has now completed these tests and they have confirmed he is fine. He has no concussion.
When will he leave hospital?
He will be kept in hospital overnight as is normal procedure in these situations.
Will Timo race in Hungary?
We are extremely confident Timo will be fit for the Hungarian Grand Prix. Naturally he is a bit shaken by the accident but all the checks have shown he is fine so we are not worried about that.
What was the cause of the accident?
At this stage we are still analyzing what the cause of the accident was because the car was heavily damaged in the impact. We will have to study the telemetry and look at video evidence.
Did the team consider bringing Jarno into the pits for checks, or even retiring him from the race?
As the safety car was out, and we switched our strategy to bring Jarno into the pits as soon as the pit lane was opened, we had the opportunity to do a visual examination of Jarno's car before racing resumed. This inspection at the pit stop, as well as all our telemetry, gave no grounds for concern so he continued to race.
07/20/08 (GMM) Timo Glock was taken to hospital but is basically uninjured following his crash during the German grand prix on Sunday.
On lap 36 at Hockenheim, the local driver lost control of his Toyota in the last corner with possible rear suspension damage, and hit the concrete pitlane wall backwards at high speed.
Clutching at his back, Glock was helped from the car by marshals, who provided him with an outdoor chair. He was then taken to the circuit medical centre.
"Timo is fine and there are no physical signs of injury," the Japanese team said later.
"He has been taken to a hospital for further precautionary checks," Toyota added.
Team principal Tadashi Yamashina said it is too early to determine the cause of the crash.