Action sports star Travis Pastrana is set to be a starter in the RallyCross event at X Games 17, despite multiple leg fractures he suffered on Thursday while performing in the ‘best trick’ segment of the freestyle motocross at the Staples Center.
Pastrana broke his right leg and ankle, CLICK HERE for that report, and his much-vaunted “Pastranathon” — three X Games events sandwiching his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut — was called off.
He is still on the list for Sunday’s RallyCross event in Los Angeles, but he, his team and the medical staff are in the exploratory stages of determining if he will be competitive and fit to drive.
After two laps of practice, Pastrana went back to the pits to debrief with his crew, which worked all afternoon Friday and into the night to set up hand controls on his Subaru rally car.
Later in the day he took his rally car to the LA Police academy training facility and the carpark at Dodgers Stadium for some final miles.
“We’ve never done anything like this before,” said Chris Yandell, Team Subaru’s media relations manager.
Pastrana’s steering wheel features accelerator controls on both sides. Pastrana said he is still trying to figure out if he wants to shift with his left or right hand.
“We’re off the pace right now for sure,” he told ESPN.
“It’s like playing a new video game with all new buttons.”
Pastrana was scheduled to compete in Moto X Freestyle Friday, fly to Indianapolis to qualify and race in his Nationwide Series debut, then return to Los Angeles and compete in RallyCross Sunday.
“I think it’s incredible,” said Tanner Foust, defending Rally Car Racing and RallyCross gold medallist.
“I watched him crash Thursday and saw his leg broken right there. The fact that he’s out here is inspiring. He’ll be competitive and I’m comfortable being on the track with him … but I think he should practice with the rest of us.”
On Tuesday, Pastrana will fly home to have surgery to insert pins and plates into his ankle, leg and hand, which he injured on his final day of practice in Maryland last week.
In the one-on-one ‘Rally Race’ section of X Games 17 two-time World Rally Champion Marcus Gronholm (Ford Fiesta) finished second to British Rallycross racer Liam Doran in a Citroen C4.
Englishman David Higgins finished third ahead of defending two-time champion Tanner Foust. Ken Block had a tough day with varied mechanical issues.
Here is the video feature on Pastrana aiming to make the RallyCross event at X Games
Here is the video of the X Games Final of the Rally Race
