IMSA: Memo Gidley recovery update

Those who've gone to see Memo Gidley in the Halifax hospital in Daytona Beach, Fla., reckon the open-wheel and sports car ace has a long road to recovery. Some have said it will take the rest of 2014 to mend his broken bones and complete rehabilitation. Whatever the duration proves to be, it's clear the Californian's fitness and high-octane spirit will help to expedite the process.

Gidley's TUDOR United SportsCar Championship team owner Bob Stallings has kept RACER abreast of Memo's progress since his nightmarish crash last Saturday during the Rolex 24 at Daytona, and shared an update on Friday that's both funny and heartwarming.

“Yesterday afternoon, Memo was having a conversation with me, and obviously he's inquisitive about what's going on with him,” said Stallings. “Although he was having some good relative clarity, his short-term memory hasn't fully returned yet. You can have a good talk with him and he can remember a lot of things before the crash, but doesn't really have much recall from the race on.

“So we're talking about what happened and he stops and says in a totally serious frame of mind, ‘You know, Bob, I just wanted to tell you…I don't think I'm going to be ready for Sebring… (Laughs) I thought that was pretty funny. He's such a thoughtful and responsible guy, he wanted me to know well in advance that I might not be able to count on him for Sebring, and I thanked him for that update…”

Gidley's broken left leg and arm were reported in the aftermath of the crash, along with the fracture to his lower back, but the damage to his left foot, which has not received as much coverage, was the subject of an operation this morning.

“He had a surgery – went in around 8:30 and came out about two hours later and that was to repair some broken bones in his left foot and heel area," Stallings explained. "We'd known about that from the beginning, but it was a lower priority to the other surgeries the doctors wanted to get done first. The surgeon said everything was successful. Memo's been in a little bit of pain today, so he's been on some sedatives so he could sleep most of the day.

“As far as we know, he's finished his ordeal of surgeries and it wouldn't surprise me if tomorrow or Sunday he'll get moved from the intensive care unit to a regular room. Then they'll continue to monitor him and his possibility for travel. It could come the end of next week, but could be as early as Wednesday or Thursday. We don't have a place picked out yet, but he'll head to Northern California.”

Stallings also spoke on the kind of support Gidley has received from the greater NASCAR and TUDOR Championship community while in the ICU.

“The whole NASCAR organization has been, honestly, just terrific," he continued. "From Jim France, Mike Helton, Ed Bennett; the organization is really attentive to help him and coordinate everything to get him back on his feet. Jim comes over every morning and sits with me in the waiting room – sometimes for an hour, sometimes for two-and-a-half hours – hanging out and keeping us company. That's been really inspiring.

“Memo's mom and girlfriend are here, and they're naturally concerned about Memo's future, and Jim's been really supportive for them. It's good to see someone with resources is making sure Memo's being looked after. We've had a few drivers come to visit, but I've been discouraging that a bit because he's still in intensive car. He's appreciated it…I'm not sure he'll remember it, but it's been pretty neat for him to have such an outpouring of care.”