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Ammermüller nursing broken wrist

Michael Ammermüller's poor results in the GP2 season opening event in Bahrain puzzled many experts who expected the 21-year old German to fight for the title this year. The ART Grand Prix driver underwent surgery on April 20 and the X-rays results will decide whether Ammermüller will compete or not in Barcelona.

Little was known about the extend of the injury he sustained 30 laps into Race 1, following a collision with Japan's Kazuki Nakajima, that relegated him to a disappointing tenth place finish. Ammermüller reported an excruciating pain from his strongly swollen left wrist and doctors advised him not to drive in the following day's Race 2. He eventually decided to endure the pain wearing a brace. Ammermüller finished seventh in the sprint race prior to the Formula 1 event.

But a closer inspection on his return to Europe revealed that he had broken the scaphoid bone in his wrist. Five days after Bahrain, Ammermüller underwent surgery in Salzburg, Austria. The broken scaphoid was fitted with a titanium 'Herbert-screw' which compresses the bone fragments.

The operation went according to plan, but wrist surgery specialist Andreas Priol warned that the healing of such a fracture can last up to 12 weeks. However, Ammermüller can't afford a convalescence that is longer than 4 weeks, because the second GP2 event of the season is scheduled for May 13 on the Circuit de Catalunya, in Spain. "If the rehabilitation flows smoothly, I possibly will be able to start in Barcelona", Ammermüller hopes.

The German reportedly resumed his fitness training both in the gym and on the bicycle. Unless fully recovered before the race, steering his 580hp single-seater in slow corners would be a very difficult task for Michael Ammermüller. A decision will be taken tomorrow by ART Grand Prix management, the GP2 official website announced.

Due to the fact that he landed the number 1 seat at ART Grand Prix, which helped both Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton to win GP2 titles in the last two years, Ammermüller, who is also a Red Bull development driver, was automatically considered favorite to win the championship in 2007.
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