WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) Sporting a smile with his left elbow in a black sling draped around his neck, Connor Zilisch was back Sunday at Watkins Glen International and recounting his scary fall in victory lane .
After winning Saturdays Xfinity race at the road course, Zilisch took a nasty tumble while attempting a celebratory perch on his No. 88 Chevrolet in celebration. Zilisch, 19, was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a broken collarbone. Trackhouse Racing withdrew the No. 87 Chevy that he was scheduled to drive in the Cup race Sunday at Watkins Glen.
First of all, Im doing OK, Zilisch said during the USA broadcast of the Cup race. Very grateful to be able to walk away from that, and I guess I didnt walk away, but Im very grateful to be walking today and to just be all right. Thank you to all the medics who took care of me, and everybody who reached out and wished me well. I do appreciate it a lot.
After his series-high sixth victory, Zilisch realized he was in trouble immediately after the chaos began in victory lane, which typically is a frenzied scene of winning team members cheering and tossing beverages as their driver exits the car.
Yeah, I was climbing out of the car and obviously the window net was on the door, and as soon as they started spraying water, my foot slipped, he said. And the last thing I remember was being halfway down and falling, so Im glad it wasnt any worse, and that the collarbone is the extent of the injuries, but hate I couldnt make it to the race today.
The question now turns to whether Zilisch will be ready in time to race in the next Xfinity race on Aug. 22 at Daytona International Speedway.
Were still working out with all the doctors to figure out whats going to be the next steps, Zilisch said.
He already has shown to be a quick healer this season. After a one-race absence at Texas Motor Speedway because of a back injury from a crash at Talladega Superspeedway, Zilisch had posted 11 consecutive top-five finishes and five wins since his return.
He noted that Trackhouse teammate Shane van Gisbergen had a place put in once and raced the weekend after. So I dont know if Ill be that quick, but hopefully my young bones will heal fast, and Ill be able to get back in it as soon as possible.
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AP auto racing:
美联社纽约州沃特金斯格伦电 —— 康纳·齐利施（Connor Zilisch）周日重返沃特金斯格伦国际赛道，他左臂挂着黑色悬带绕在颈间，却仍面带笑容，向人们讲述自己在冠军车道遭遇的惊险摔车事故。
在周六赢得Xfinity系列赛公路赛道分站冠军后，齐利希（Zilisch）试图爬上他的88号雪佛兰赛车庆祝时不幸重重摔下。这位19岁的小将被送往医院，经诊断锁骨骨折。Trackhouse车队因此撤回了原定由他驾驶的87号雪佛兰赛车，该车本应参加周日在沃特金斯格伦举行的杯赛。
齐利施（Zilisch）在美国杯赛转播中表示：'首先，我目前状态良好。能从那场事故中脱身已让我无比感激——虽然严格来说不算全身而退，但今天还能自如行走、安然无恙已是万幸。感谢所有救治我的医护人员，以及每一位送来问候与祝福的人，这份关怀让我深受感动。'
在创下系列赛六连胜的佳绩后，齐利希（Zilisch）刚进入冠军通道就意识到情况不妙——这里本应是车队成员疯狂欢呼、向刚下赛车的车手泼洒饮料的狂欢场景，此刻却陷入一片混乱。
“当时我正在爬出赛车，车窗防护网显然还挂在车门上。他们一开始喷水，我的脚就滑了一下，”他说道，“我最后的记忆是滑到一半摔了下去。所幸伤情没有更严重，只是锁骨受伤，但遗憾今天没能参加比赛。”
现在的问题在于齐利施能否及时做好准备，参加8月22日在代托纳国际赛道举行的下一场Xfinity系列赛。
齐利希表示：“我们仍在与所有医生商讨，以确定后续治疗方案。”
本赛季他已展现出惊人的恢复能力。在塔拉迪加超级高速赛道撞车导致背部受伤、缺席德克萨斯汽车赛道一站比赛后，齐利希自复出以来已连续11次跻身前五名，并斩获5场胜利。
他指出，Trackhouse车队队友沙恩·范吉斯伯根（Shane van Gisbergen）曾有过一次受伤后迅速复出的经历——刚固定好受伤部位，隔周便重返赛场。因此他坦言：“我不确定自己能否如此神速，但希望这副年轻的身体能快速康复，让我尽早回归赛场。”
美联社赛车新闻：