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IRL: Condition of Injured Chief Mechanic Improving

5 June 1999

INDIANAPOLIS - Steve Fried, the injured Energizer Motorsports Indy Racing chief mechanic, was upgraded to fair condition today at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

Fried was critically injured in a pit-lane accident during the early stages of the Indianapolis 500 on May 30. The team's rookie driver, Robby McGehee, went on to earn a superb fifth-place finish and earned the Bank One Rookie of the Year award.

In an emotional hospital visit Tuesday, McGehee presented his Rookie of the Year trophy to Fried.

According to team spokesman Greg Hoover, Fried was sitting up, eating pudding and talking to Energizer Motorsports team owners Linda and Dave Conti on Thursday.

Cards or notes (no flowers or perishables) may be sent to:

Steve Fried
Methodist Hospital
Neuro Critical Care Unit
P.O. Box 1367
Indianapolis, IN 46206

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