Defending champion Rice not cleared to race in Indy 500

INDIANAPOLIS -- Buddy Rice is out of the Indianapolis 500 after the defending champion's back injury proved more severe than first diagnosed, and former Indy champ Kenny Brack will replace him more than a year after he was seriously hurt in an IRL race.

Dr. Henry Bock, the medical director at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, announced Tuesday he has informed the Rahal Letterman Racing team that Rice will not get medical clearance in time to qualify for the May 29 race.

Rice injured his back and sustained a concussion in a crash during practice on the 2½-mile oval last Wednesday.

The back injury was first thought to be a deep contusion, but Bock said further evaluation revealed a partially torn spinal ligament in his mid-to-lower neck area that is essential to maintaining the alignment of the spine. Doctors have recommended rest and rehabilitation, and Bock said Rice's condition will be reassessed in about three weeks.

"Needless to say, I am extremely disappointed that I won't be able to defend my Indy 500 championship," Rice said in a statement issued by the team. "I have spent the last several months thinking about, working towards and planning how I would defend my Indy 500 victory.

Buddy Rice is not able to defend his Indy title due to injuries sustained in a practice crash. (AP)

"Physically I feel fine, but I have to trust the Speedway and IRL medical team because they are looking out for my safety. I am optimistic that I will be cleared for Texas (June 11) and will be able to get back in the car. I plan to stay here in Indy and help our team in any way I can."

The team has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday to announce Rice's Indy replacement and a source close to the team said the new driver will be 1999 Indy winner and 1998 Indy Racing League champion Brack.

Brack, seriously injured in a crash in the season-ending race at Texas in October 2003, has tested an IndyCar but has not raced in the IRL since the accident in which he broke both ankles, a thigh, his back and ribs. One of the ankles was crushed in the crash, and Brack spent the next three months in hospitals.

Brack returned to racing last September in his native Sweden. Driving a Porsche in the Carrera Cup series at Mantorp Park, he finished fifth in two races.

Rice, who replaced Brack on the Rahal Letterman team at the start of the 2004 season, spent one night in the hospital after his Indy crash.

The day after he was released from the hospital, Rice said he didn't know why he suddenly spun out of control and slammed backward into the Speedway's energy-absorbing SAFER Barrier.

"I really don't know what happened," Rice said after returning to the Speedway on Friday. "It could have been driver error or maybe a gust of wind. But I know it was a pretty hard hit."

The 29-year-old Rice was expected to be a strong contender for the IRL IndyCar Series championship this year, but got off to a slow start and is 11th in the points standings following a season-best third-place finish last month in Japan.