Hamilton back on his feet, back on track

Davey Hamilton first prayed to see more than stumps below his knees each time he awoke.

After surgeons saved his mangled and shredded lower legs from amputation following a horrific IndyCar crash six years ago, Hamilton then turned his prayers to being able to walk again.

Once those were answered, the 44-year-old former Las Vegas resident seriously began plotting a prayerful course back to the sport that always has been the center of his essence.

Once a racer, always a racer — regardless of circumstance.

"I did feel at times it wasn’t going to happen, but I just couldn’t talk myself into that," Hamilton said by telephone last week from Indianapolis.

Hamilton’s wonderfully miraculous journey back to race-car driver culminates today when he strides confidently to his No. 02 IndyCar on the starting grid for the 10 a.m. running of the Indianapolis 500.

"People that know me, truly know me, know I live it and I breathe it. Racing has been my life," said Hamilton, who qualified 20th in the 33-car field.

Racing, however, almost cost him his life.

Hamilton was left with nowhere to go when a car in front of him spun during an Indy Racing League event June 9, 2001, at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

His injuries from the point-on crash were limited to below mid-shin on each leg. He wasn’t knocked out. He says he never will forget the pain.

But following six years and 23 surgeries, the sandy-haired veteran driver, who looks much younger than his age, has nothing but good feelings today.

"I feel well physically," Hamilton said. "Mentally, I’m feeling strong. The car has been great all month. I’m excited about (today).

"I’ve had no issues whatsoever."

Hamilton was 20th fastest in Friday’s final practice session on "Carb Day" at Indy. His average speed of 220.669 mph was about 5 mph slower than the day’s best by Tony Kanaan.

Hamilton is driving for Vision Racing, which is partially owned by Tony George, whose family owns Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

This Indy 500 is Hamilton’s seventh, and his best finish was fourth in 1998.

Other than his first 500 in 1996, his most memorable moment at the fabled track was May 5 when he qualified.

"That was a bit of a tearjerker when I got qualified," he said. "Coming down pit lane … with the drivers and the teams coming out and giving me congratulations for making the race. That was pretty special."

John Andretti, a NASCAR racer who will start at Indy today for the first time since 1994, shares the use of trainer Steve Hoffacker in Indianapolis and was there when Hamilton began working out while still in a wheelchair.

"This is not just a mosquito bite or something. Davey is a true competitor and a hero, I think, to a lot of people," Andretti said. "People will never know how far he’s come, how much this is.

"To me, he’s the real story of the month."

Hamilton, who now lives in Boise, Idaho, will compete in his first race since the Texas crash. But this month isn’t his first in a race car since the crash.

After rigorous rehabilitation, Hamilton was hired to drive a specially designed two-seat IndyCar used to provide a racing experience for fans, sponsors and dignitaries.

He said he has logged nearly 10,000 laps in the promotional car that averages about 175 mph on the 2.5-mile Indy oval. That provided ample time for him to become reacquainted with speed and adjust to using foot pedals because his ankles permanently lost flexibility.

That’s also how he met Todd Bradley, an executive vice president with Hewlett Packard, which is sponsoring his car.

"I just happened to be the guy that gave him the ride," Hamilton said. "We actually just hit it off. One thing led to another."

Before he could drive competitively again, Hamilton had to return money his insurance company paid to him two years after the crash when it declared him totally disabled.

"It was definitely more than $100,000. It was a bit more than that, but that’s OK," he said. "We’re taken care of.

"I’m reinsured, ready to go again."

Hamilton has no qualms about the comeback.

"Anytime you put a fire suit on and a helmet on, you know there is some risk involved," he said.

He also is not ruling out more races.

"I’m going to evaluate it after the race is over and (decide) what I want to do next," Hamilton said. "I’ll have to tell you, as much fun as I’m having right now, this is probably not the last time you’ll see me in a car."