Greg Murphy is in doubt for the L&H 500 after having surgery on Sunday.
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By Briar Gunther 6:31 PM Mon 23 August, 2010
Source: BigPond Sport
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A back injury may sideline Castrol Edge Racing driver Greg Murphy from next month's L&H 500.
Murphy was rushed to hospital after collapsing at his home on Friday with a bulged disc in his lower back.
The four-time Bathurst champ underwent surgery at Linacre Private Hospital yesterday (Sunday) and while his was discharged and walking today, Murphy's recovery could take some time.
"I would like to think it's a 50/50 chance – that would be very good odds – but it's just too early to tell whether I'm going to make or not," he said.
"I had a bulged disc in my lower back, the L5, which pushed the nerve off to the side and created a problem with my left leg.
"That caused a major strength loss and I need that back as I left foot brake, a key component of my driving."
Team owner Paul Morris said a search for a replacement driver to potentially take Murhpy's place alongside rookie Tim Blanchard is well underway.
"We are already looking at our options and I'm sure the phone will start ringing off the hook with offers pretty soon," Morris said.
"We will find the best driver available and put them on standby, but we will also give Murph every opportunity to recover.
"His health is what's most important, so we won't want him to come back too early and put that at risk.
"We can enter a third driver, which we will, so we won't make a decision on whether Murph drives or not until the very last minute."
Murphy is adamant that he will drive at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 in October.
"I want to make sure I'm right, I don't want to go to Phillip Island half okay with just a few weeks until the biggest race of the year," he said.
"The way I am up and about already is encouraging, so Bathurst seems a very safe bet.
"I don't think there's any chance that I will miss having a crack at another win on the Mountain."
