Actor Jason Priestley faces weeks of healing and rehabilitation but is expected to recover fully from injuries sustained after being injured in a 180mph motor speedway crash.

Less than 24 hours after the accident at the Kentucky Speedway on Sunday, the former Beverly Hills 90210 star was alert, moving his arms and legs and communicating with visitors at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, US.

"He is becoming more and more aware of his surroundings," said a hospital spokesman.

Doctors also said the actor was suffering from concussion and temporary memory loss, but was able to recognise family and friends.

Priestley was rushed to hospital in Kentucky

Priestley was transferred to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis on Monday, after his condition improved enough to allow him to be moved.

He had made previous arrangements to be transferred to the hospital, which has treated several other racing drivers, if he were ever involved in a serious accident.

The actor suffered a fractured spine, concussion, a head injury, two fractured feet and a broken nose during the accident on Sunday.

He may not need spinal surgery but is likely to need an operation to repair the bones in his feet.

Priestley was thought to have driven through a patch of liquid

A spokeswoman from the University Of Kentucky Medical Center said that the hospital had been inundated with phone calls, cards, flowers, faxes and prayers from fans since Priestley arrived on Sunday.

"The response has been unbelievable," she said.

Actor Luke Perry, who co-starred with Priestley in Beverly Hills 90210, was among visitors to the hospital.

Priestly had been due to compete in a race at Kentucky Speedway, having come second in the qualifying round on Saturday.

Former Indy 500 winner Arie Luyendyk saw the crash from the roof of the press box and said the actor hit the wall head-on.

Warning

He got sideways and he corrected and then shot off the track," said Mr Luyendyk, whose son Arie Jr competes with Priestley.

"He turned right into the wall, and his first impact was basically head-on.

Mr Luyendyk added that Priestley appeared to have driven through some "oil-dry", an absorbent material that was spread on part of the track 10 minutes earlier to soak up an oil leak from another car.

Stage actor

Indy Racing League vice-president Fred Nation said that the drivers had been warned not to go through the substance.

Priestley and actress Patricia Hodge attended 2000's Olivier Awards

Priestley became a worldwide star and heartthrob when he played Brandon Walsh in Beverly Hills 90210 between 1990 and 1998.

But he is not just known for his TV role - he branched out in 2000 at London's Apollo Theatre in a critically acclaimed production of the hit Broadway play Side Man.

It marked his West End debut and his return to the stage following a 10-year absence.

His film credits include Love and Death on Long Island, Tombstone and Eye of the Beholder.

Prison

Last year he finished an alcohol treatment programme imposed after a drink-drive conviction in 2000.

Priestley, from Vancouver, Canada, crashed his silver Porsche into a lamp post, a parked car and some dustbins in the Hollywood Hills in December 1999.

The incident destroyed the car, while his passenger and best friend Chad Cook suffered a broken arm.

Priestley was sentenced to five days in prison by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor last year.

Judge Pastor also ordered Priestley to serve three years' probation and enter a drug and alcohol treatment programme.

The actor's driving licence was suspended for a year.