This is your chance to learn from the experiences of others so that you know what you can do to minimize your chances of suffering a concussion and how to recognize when action on your part is required if you are concussed. Be proactive and educate yourself about concussions, ignoring the issue is not the answer as ignoring it may possibility lead to a permanent disability.

This information will measurably add to your knowledge about how to approach possible concussions in racing incidents you may be involved with. Incidents do occur in racing and head injuries may occur. If follow-up care for a concussion is needed a link is provided in the ImPact section of this webpage that provides assistance in locating a health care provider who specializes in providing state of the art concussion care for their patients.

Fellow racers,

Concussions in sports are very much in the news today. And thanks to the work of fellow RRDC member and Neurocritical Care Physician Dr. Steve Olvey, racing leads the way in addressing the issue. In our latest video Dr. Olvey and his rather well-known patient - four-time IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti - take you through a case history. Together they explain concussions - from the point of view of both the injured driver and the doctor treating the driver. They cover just about everything - the symptoms, the recovery process and knowing when it’s OK to get back in a race car. And finally they discuss Dario’s decision to retire from racing after suffering multiple concussions. In the good old days of the sport, you simply “got your bell rung” (I seem to remember a few of those). And then you got right back in the car. Now we know better. I think this a very compelling video that everyone involved in racing should watch. And our thanks to Dario and Steve for participating in such a frank discussion of the issue.

Bobby Rahal
SAFEisFAST.com

VIDEOS

ImPACT® test.
Developed by UPMC's concussion experts, the ImPACT® and Pediatric ImPACT® tools set a baseline for normal functioning brain activities. The ImPACT website provides information on locations of testing enters: https://www.impacttest.com/find_care_provider/

They're the most effective tool in the comparative assessment of a person's neurocognitive state before a concussion occurs.

The computer-based ImPACT  test take about 25 minutes to complete. They look at and record multiple aspects of an athlete’s neurocognitive state, such as:

  • Verbal and visual memory.

  • Brain processing speed.

  • Reaction time.

The ImPACT test alone does not diagnose a concussion. Experts use these tools:

  • To establish baseline data when a driver is in a non-concussed or “normal” state.

  • As part of a complete evaluation process to manage head injuries more accurately.