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IRL: Billy Boat Looking at Eight Weeks of Recovery, Minimum

1 July 1998

Billy Boat

Indianapolis, Ind.: June 30, 1998 - Pep Boys Indy Racing League driver, Billy Boat, who was injured in the New England 200 at New Hampshire International Speedway on Sunday, June 28, was transported from Concord Hospital in Concord, N.H. to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis yesterday. He was admitted to Methodist Hospital at 2:15 p.m.

Boat's upper left femur fracture was fixed with an L-shaped plate and screws in surgery last night at Methodist Hospital. Dr. Kevin Scheid, who performed the surgery, reported that Billy was in good condition. He said that the healing time for the bone is about 8 weeks, but that it may be less time until he could drive again. Boat also suffered from a fractured pelvis, which required no surgery and would heal in about the same amount of time, Dr. Scheid said.

Boat is expected to return home to Phoenix by the end of this week.

"We are very happy that Billy is okay and will have a fairly quick recovery time," said team manager Tommy LaMance. "We really want to thank the IRL medical team and the doctors and staff at Methodist Hospital for taking care of Billy.

"We will continue to run the Conseco car in the Pep Boys IRL series until Billy is ready to get back in. We hope to have more information on those plans available by the middle of next week."

Cards for Billy Boat can be sent to the following address:

Billy Boat
C/O B&B Fabrication
23045 N. 15th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85027

Email messages can be sent to Billy on billyboat.com

Flowers can be sent to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis until his departure later this week. Then they should be sent to the above address.