CART chief's son critical after test crash.

David Pook, the 30-year-old son of CART president Chris Pook, has been injured in a private testing accident at Phoenix International Raceway.

Pook Jr was transported to nearby Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, where he remains today in critical condition in the Intensive Neurological Care Unit with a clean fracture of his second cervical vertebra. According to neurosurgeon Dr Barry Kriegsfeld, immediate plans call for Pook to be fitted with a 'halo' device, and it is not believed that the injury will require surgery. Pook is conscious and talking, and is in good spirits.

Pook was testing his NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour Chevrolet stock car, and was on one of the day's final test runs when the car fell victim to a suspected steering failure. He was travelling approximately 150mph down the front straightaway of the one-mile oval at the time of the suspected equipment failure, which resulted in a nearly head-on collision with the Turn One wall. He was wearing a HANS device, and it is thought that this prevented further injury.

Pook is a veteran race driver who has competed in both the CART Toyota Atlantic Championship and the Dayton Indy Lights Championship. He also drove a Van Diemen RF95 to the 1995 SCCA Formula Continental national championship.
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Chris Pook, travelling at the time of the injury, altered his plans and is now with his son at the hospital in Phoenix. Further updates will be provided as they become available.