INDYCAR: Tests reveal no concussion for Power

IndyCar has announced that a medical evaluation revealed no definitive evidence that Will Power suffered a concussion when he crashed during practice at St Petersburg on Friday.

The Team Penske driver was evaluated at the University of Miami Concussion Program, during which he passed the immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) test and a MRI/DVI study was normal in all parameters. An IndyCar statement said that Power was evaluated by a team of physicians specializing in concussions.

"The doctors at the University of Miami concluded Power's symptoms were not the result of a concussion, and may have been related to a lingering inner-ear infection for which he was being treated," said Dr Terry Trammell, safety consultant to IndyCr.

"There is no evidence that he sustained a concussion in the crash on Friday, which is consistent with his ear accelerometer data and the mandatory screening evaluation conducted after his crash."

Power crashed during the opening practice session at St Petersburg on Friday, and experienced severe nausea immediately after putting his car on pole a day later.

He was required to undergo an IndyCar medical examination on Sunday, during which he failed a SCAT (Sports Concussion Assessment Tool) and was presumed to be suffering from concussion-like symptoms. He was replaced by Oriol Servia for the race.

"Given the nature of the inner-ear infection it would have been extremely difficult for Will to pass the SCAT, which is ultimately what led to the concussion diagnosis," Trammell said. "At the University of Miami they conducted a week's worth of testing in one day and Will was seen by multiple physicians. The doctors concluded definitively that Will had not sustained a recent head trauma."

Power has been cleared to return to driving.