Greg Biffle crashed during a Las Vegas tire test on Dec. 7 and separated his shoulder. Credit: Autostock

Biffle doesn't remember LVMS pre-crash details

Driver plans to meet with track officials during next week's test

CONCORD, N.C. -- Greg Biffle says he doesn't remember anything that happened immediately before his vicious testing accident at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Dec. 7.

The crash, which occurred when Biffle spun his Ford in Turn 2 and hit the wall at 200 mph, dislocated Biffle's right shoulder.

The hit left Biffle with temporary blurred vision.

	Greg Biffle said he would talk with Las Vegas Motor Speedway officials next week. Credit: Autostock
	SORE RECOVERY An initial AP report said that Greg Biffle acknowledged Las Vegas safety officials were slow to repond after his accident.  •   Complete story, click here RecoveryGreg Biffle rested after his Las Vegas test crash Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

"I don't remember anything prior to being knocked out. I don't remember the weekend at all," Biffle said. "I don't remember going to Las Vegas, I don't remember the test, and I don't remember anything. I remember a vague picture of it."

A Jan. 10 Associated Press story said that Biffle was critical of the response time of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway medical staff, but Biffle said on Wednesday that the medical team reached him sufficiently.

"The statement of they were slow to respond or whatever, I never said that," Biffle said. "They were there and they had pulled up. I didn't say that. I remember everything that took place after that. I don't remember a lot before that."

In response to the AP story, LVMS general manager Chris Powell fired off a statement saying that Biffle's "recollection of the event is in gross error."

"Our safety team was positioned on the inside of the speedway across from the point at which Mr. Biffle's car made contact with the wall," Powell said. "The safety truck rolled toward Mr. Biffle's car, which came to a halt in the middle of the backstretch.

"When the speedway's safety truck reached Mr. Biffle's car, he already had removed his head-and-neck restraint and was attempting to exit his car. The speedway paramedic rushed to Mr. Biffle's aid, but Mr. Biffle assured the paramedic that he [Biffle] was fine and wanted only to be returned to his team's hauler in the infield."

Powell's version of events was corroborated by Kyle Busch, who was running a quarter-mile behind when Biffle crashed. Busch slowed his car to check on Biffle but headed to the garage when Biffle indicated he was OK.

"I was at the start/finish line when he wrecked," Busch said. "When I rolled behind him, it was on fire and it didn't look like he was controlling it. I started slowing down with him, and [he] finally came to a stop.

"I had already unbuckled my seat belt and was about to climb out and I saw him out. We just hand-signaled to each other whether he was OK. He was standing fine."

Biffle said he would meet with LVMS officials during the open Nextel Cup test there the week of Jan. 29.

"You know, I really wanted to tell the whole story, my side of the story, how it all played out, but I have elected not to discuss everything that happened," Biffle said. "We are going to meet there with some people and discuss what we can do different next time, I think, and leave it at that."

In its official statement, LVMS officials stated that Biffle refused to be transported to a local hospital after the crash.

"Mr. Biffle signed a form saying that he refused being transported and he himself wrote, 'I feel fine' on a release document," the statement said. "Mr. Biffle himself completed that document at 1:25 p.m., several minutes after he had been returned to the team's hauler.

"Mr. Biffle's statement was written as a response to a demand on the document that requested a reason for his refusing to be transported."

Biffle said on Wednesday that he regretted not going to an off-track hospital for observation. He said that he thinks he should have been required to receive medical clearance before he boarded an airplane and returned home.

"You need a basic 'How you feeling, did you hit your head, what day is it?'" Biffle said. "That is probably the only thing I have to say about the whole scenario.

"I probably should have handled it differently, and I was a little upset at what [Powell] said because it is not the whole story."