Veteran driver Eliseo Salazar was in serious but stable condition in the intensive-care unit at Orlando Regional Medical Center after slamming into the wall at Walt Disney World Speedway during practice Friday. Salazar, one of the more experienced Indy-car drivers in this Indy Racing League field, had surgery to remove the car stabilizing rod that punctured his right leg. He also has a fractured right thigh. He is expected to have additional surgery in coming days, hospital officials said. The accident happened when Salazar got loose in Turn 3. His car smacked the outside wall, did a 360-spin through the front stretch, hit the inside wall, then bounced up the track and plowed into the outside wall in Turn 1. It took about 30 minutes for track personnel to get him out of the car. Upon arriving at the hospital, he went into surgery to remove the stabilizer bar. Formula Ford 2000 results Sam Schmidt of Long Beach, Calif., won the Formula Ford 2000 race at Walt Disney World Speedway. Schmidt, who started third, finished just ahead of Nick Holt and Allen May. Pole-sitter Bruno Bianchi came in fourth. David Webb of Clearwater finished 35th in the 36-car field. Schmidt's average speed for the 40-lap race was 77.410 mph. Driver Ron Ignatowski crashed and fractured the fifth vertebra in his neck. He was being treated at Orlando Regional Medical Center. Here today, gone tomorrow? Buddy Lazier made a splash at the Indy 200 qualifying session Friday, but it may be his last. Lazier said he is negotiating to drive full time on the IndyCar World Series circuit this year. Lazier has had talks with Walter Payton/Coyne Racing, but nothing has been finalized. Sign of the times Nancy Cordero is not your typical Indy-car mechanic. Cordero is a mechanic and front-tire changer on the Jonathan Byrd/Leberle-Treadway Racing team, which employs driver Arie Luyendyk. Though she is not the only female crew member in Indy-type racing, she is believed to be the only one in the Indy Racing League. Quote of the day Driver Johnny O'Connell, asked how he would prepare for today's race, the first Indy-car event for many of the drivers in the field: "Probably by getting on my knees and praying." _ DARRELL FRY