Motor Racing: Mansell back at Long Beach

NIGEL MANSELL, recovering from a heavy crash on the oval at Phoenix 11 days ago, has confirmed he will be competing in the IndyCar race at Long Beach, California, on Sunday, writes Derick Allsop.

The Formula One world champion, concussed when his car went backwards into the wall, spent the night in hospital and missed the Arizona race. He has since had further tests at a hospital near his home in Clearwater, Florida, and insists he will be back in his Newman- Haas Lola-Ford this weekend. Mansell said: 'I'm still sore but I've been resting and it gets a bit easier every day. It's going to be a struggle, but I'll be there. At least this is not an oval and I'll ease my way into the weekend.'

Mansell watched Sunday's Grand Prix of Europe on television. He was impressed by McLaren-Ford, brought a second consecutive victory by Ayrton Senna, but less so by Alain Prost's display for his former team, Williams-Renault.

He said: 'Prost clearly got it wrong. What I found amazing though was McLaren's performance. They're doing a fantastic job. They are obviously down on power compared with Williams, but their car looks as if it could be even better than the Williams.'