Vickers Out for Rest of the Season
CONCORD, N.C. - Brian Vickers announced on Friday that he will be out of the No. 83 Red Bull Toyota for the remainder of the season.
Vickers is undergoing treatment for blood clots after he had chest pains while visiting Washington D.C. prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway.
"Due to what’s happened and due to the blood thinners that I’m on that I will be out of the car for a minimum of six months, for the rest of the year," Vickers said. "If something changes and I can get in sooner then great. Right now, it’s going to be the remainder of the season."
"As disappointing as this is it's an opportunity that I'm going to use to make the most of life and try to make it positive.
"I do expect to be back in the car next season and to win the Daytona 500."
Vickers' doctor, Steven A. Limentani, talked about the decision for him to be out of the car for the rest of the season.
“The data on three versus six months is very clear and in a setting like his, the risk of recurrent problems is significantly lower with six months rather than three months and that’s the reason for recommending that," Limentani said. "Other decisions about duration of anticoagulation beyond six months again would be speculating because we don’t have all the data.”
Last weekend, Mears stepped in for Vickers and he will continue to race the No. 83, including in tomorrow night's All-Star race.
"I want to thank Casey Mears and thank the whole team for stepping up to the plate," Vickers said. "Casey for getting in as a friend, fellow driver and doing a great job. Scott (Speed) and the other team, the 82 and everyone involved. What they’ve done, they’ve been very supportive through this whole transition process."
Vickers plans to still attend some races and spend time with the team, including the pit crew and spotter.
"I’m going to take some time off, doctor’s orders," Vickers said. "I’m going to do some stuff, quite frankly, that I’ve wanted to do that I haven’t been able to do my whole life."
Although the Red Bull Team doesn't anticipate a change, Mears will remain as the replacement driver. A possible switch could come at the road course races.
"We’re very comfortable with Casey (Mears)," said Jay Frye, General Manager, Red Bull Racing Team. "Like Brian (Vickers) said, he’s a friend. He’s doing a great job and we don’t anticipate a change.”