Shattered Gore misses Indy hype

Gore will be forced to watch the motor racing event on television at his home after suffering a burst ear drum.

The Coast entrepreneur was flying his new helicopter on Monday when he blew a small hole in his inner right ear.

Gore underwent surgery on Tuesday but has lost about 90 per cent of his hearing in that ear, which could be permanent, and is under sedation at his home.

“He can't fly, he can't jump up and down and he can't be exposed to loud noises, all of which is essential to being at Indy,” said Dr Van Nguyen, who treated Gore.

“He's heartbroken. It's the biggest weekend of his life every year and he would do anything to go but he can't.

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“I saw him this morning and his spirits aren't good.”

Team Australia's number one driver; Will Power vowed to take the trophy directly to Gore's home if he won the champ car race on Sunday; on the 4.47km Surfers Paradise street track.

“What a big blow for the weekend,” said Power, who is fourth in the driver standings heading into the penultimate race of the season.

“I have to say it's going to be a bit quiet around the Team Australia pit without Craig but he'll be there in his lounge room watching the race."

“I think both of us (Power and team mate Simon Pagenaud) will be doing our absolute best to give him a podium finish."

“If I win the race I'll be going straight to Craig's house with the trophy and celebrating with him.”

Dr Nguyen said Gore risked permanent damage if he attended Indy.

“This is not just a sore ear,” he said.

“You're talking about a 40-year-old guy potentially being dizzy every day for the rest of his life if he doesn't do the right thing for the next week or so."

“He won't be able to walk or drive, let alone fly. He'll be dizzy all the time.”

Gore said he was “absolutely shattered” he would not be trackside to watch his champ car and V8 Supercar drivers (WPS/WOW team) in action this weekend.

“I will obviously be glued to my television set all weekend but I cannot risk further injury to my ear with exposure to the noise and excitement that Indy produces,” he said in a statement.

“While I will not be at the track, there will be more than 100,000 passionate Australian fans doing all the yelling and screaming to get Will over the line.”

The champ cars will hit the track for practice on Friday morning before the first qualifying session later that day.