Dallas / Fort Worth Local News

DALLAS (CBS 11 NEWS / AP) ― Drag-racing star John Force's prognosis is "very good" after six hours of surgery following a wreck Sunday at the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex, his publicist said Monday.

Force, a 14-time champion, wrecked while racing Funny Car rival Kenny Bernstein.

As a result of the accident, Force has a compound fracture of his left ankle, a lacerated right knee, a dislocated left wrist and abrasions on two fingers on his right hand. He had screws inserted into his ankle and temporary pins placed in his wrist, said David Densmore, publicist for John Force Racing.

Force, 58, was airlifted to Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas when his Mustang lost a tire as it was going over 315 miles per hour.

Despite the television crews and fans that videotaped the accident, Force says he still hasn't seen video of the crash. If you have video of the accident, that you own the rights to, click here to send it to us.

Force and Bernstein had just crossed the finish line when the crash happened. Parachutes on both cars had deployed when what appeared to be an explosion happened in the rear of Force's car. The blast broke the chassis in two.

With Force still strapped in, the cockpit tumbled to the side with the dragsters' two rear tires still attached. The front end of Force's car, with the engine still attached, continued forward, slamming into Bernstein. Bernstein was not hurt.

From his hospital bed, John Force spoke about the accident to CBS 11 News.

"The parachute went out at 320 [miles per hour] and held the car upright," Force said. "My legs were just outside flopping around. It cut it off right at my waist, and my legs were free, at that speed, to be ripped off. I'm just totally amazed that it didn't."

He says he has been in crashes before, but has never been injured this severely.

"As bad as that crash was, I should have been dead," said Force. "The car was totally destroyed, and yet here I am with broken bones… I can bless the good Lord.'

The NHRA is investigating the accident, NHRA spokesman Anthony Vestal said. Several laboratories will examine parts of the tires and broken chassis.

Force says he credits his survival to his safety team. He says he and the team will study video of the crash to try and make further safety improvements.

Force has suffered at least one other serious accident in more than three decades of racing, Densmore said. An accident in Memphis, Tenn., in 1992 left Force with second-degree burns on his face and hands.

"I feel so vulnerable, for the first time in my life," said Force. "I thought I could handle anything."

He says he and his team have had bad luck lately. Last March another racer on the team was killed during testing after a big race in Florida.

To pay tribute to that racer, he vows to move forward. He has a lot of physical therapy in front of him, but he hopes to race again in one month.

Daughter Ashley Force, also a Funny Car driver, pulled out of the semifinals. John Force, who won his race with Bernstein, could have met her in the finals for the first time had they both won, Densmore said.


Click here to watch an interview with Ashley about her dad's accident.

Force's wife, Laurie, Ashley and son-in-law Robert Hight -- also a Funny Car driver -- were with him at the hospital. Force's other three daughters were in California, Densmore said.

Force and his four daughters are the subjects of a reality TV show on A&E called "Driving Force." Three of his daughters are drivers and one is an executive in John Force Racing.

(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)