NHRA Pro Modified racer Sidnei Frigo escaped serious injury in a spectacular crash during qualifying on Friday at the NHRA Spring Nationals at Royal Purple Raceway near Houston, Texas, when he lost control of his twin turbocharged Corvette and crashed in the shutdown area.
Frigo, from São Paulo, Brazil, was racing in the left lane during the second session of Pro Modified qualifying alongside Mike Castellana when his Pro Line Racing-powered C7 Chevrolet Corvette made a move toward the centerline as it neared the finish stripe. After crossing the centerline and collecting the 1/4-mile timing blocks, the car shot back into the left lane, spinning around and briefly catching air underneath the body, catapulting it over the guardrail. Frigo’s mount rolled violently several times before coming to rest upside down in the grass.
The NHRA Safety Safari tended to Frigo, who was reported to conscious and alert. As a precautionary measure, he was transported via helicopter to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Baytown for evaluation. He was later treated for a broken arm, undergoing surgery on Saturday.