Another time I broke my right leg at a race in California. The next week we had a race at Pocono. I wasn't going to miss that event. Anyway, Dale and the crew put me in the car the morning of practice and qualifying. I sat in the car all day. They brought me food and drinks and gave me a bottle to use instead of going to the bathroom. Late in the afternoon, after qualifying was over, they pulled me out of the car and we went to the motel.
The bottom line is I was never smart enough to know when I should have been on the sidelines. But I promise you, neither are the drivers today. A driver is going to race if he can crawl to his car.
That's why we need a rule allowing the doctor to say yes or no.