Dare

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Airton Dare had surgery Friday on his broken right arm and broken leg after he was injured in a crash during Indy Racing League practice the previous day.

Dare remained at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. He is expected to be transported Sunday to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis to undergo surgery on minor fractures in his right hand and right foot.

After turning laps in the 210-mph range Thursday, the suspension on his car failed going through the fourth turn at Texas Motor Speedway. The car slammed into the wall twice, then spun several times before coming to rest on the grassy infield on the frontstretch.

"Something broke and it just shot me into the wall," Dare said. "I feel much better today. It only hurts when I move."

A.J. Foyt's team has not determined what caused the failure that led to the accident.

Jaques Lazier will drive the No. 5 backup car in the Bombardier 500 on Saturday night. He will start at the back of the 22-car field since he didn't make a qualifying attempt, but was 10th-fastest in his first practice Friday at 215.807 mph.

"I'm thrilled to be with A.J.," Lazier said. "It's been a blur since A.J. asked me to drive last night. I'm trying to stay calm and cool about everything."

Lazier was released by Team Menard after the Indianapolis 500, having crashed out of three races and finishing sixth at Phoenix. He has one win in 29 career starts.<

Herta debut
Bryan Herta makes his first IndyCar Series start this weekend. He is filling in for injured driver Dario Franchitti.

Herta, who has won two CART races in his career, will start ninth in one of three Andretti Green Racing entries. Series points leader Tony Kanaan starts fourth, and rookie Dan Wheldon starts 13th.

Foyt Firehawk
A.J. Foyt IV was presented Friday with one of the Firestone Firehawk racing tires that was on his car last year when he clinched the IRL's Infiniti Pro Series championship.

Foyt earned four poles and won four races in the inaugural season of the Infiniti Pro Series. He is now the primary driver for his grandfather's IndyCar Series team.

"My grandson winning his first championship on Firestone tires brings back a lot of good memories because I won my first Indy car championship on Firestone tires in 1960," Foyt said.<

Sparkplugs
By winning the pole, Tomas Scheckter earned a one-year lease for the use of a Cirrus SR-22 airplane. He was presented the lease on Friday. But it came without a pilot. ... Felipe Giaffone turned the fastest lap in the final practice at 220.574 mph. ... Greg Ray is staying busy as a driver/owner at his hometrack. "Having a lot of corporate support here and coming back from Indy after being there for a month, there's a lot of people to entertain as we try to push our sponsorship," said Ray, who starts 15th. "It's been 5 a.m. to midnight."