FONTANA, Calif. – Verizon IndyCar Series driver Mikhail Aleshin, who was involved in a multi-car incident in the final practice session Aug. 29 for the MAVTV 500 at Auto Club Speedway, was evaluated at Loma Linda University Medical Center and diagnosed with a concussion, fractured ribs, a broken right clavicle and chest injuries, according to INDYCAR medical consultant Dr. Terry Trammell.
Aleshin was admitted to the hospital and listed in serious but stable condition.
Aleshin’s No. 7 SMP Racing car veered below the white line exiting Turn 3 and spun up the racetrack into the oncoming No. 83 Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing car driven by Charlie Kimball. Aleshin’s car became airborne and made contact with the fencing above the SAFER Barrier. He was awake and alert when removed from the car by the Holmatro Safety Team and transported to the hospital by helicopter.
Kimball was checked at the infield medical center and cleared to drive. The Ganassi Racing crew began preparing the backup car for the 250-lap championship-deciding race Aug. 30 (9 p.m. ET on NBCSN). Kimball qualified fifth.
Aleshin, 27, of Moscow, had just completed a timed lap of 33.4413 seconds (215.303 mph) during the scheduled 30-minute session under the lights on the 2-mile oval. Earlier in the day, he qualified eighth, a season high on an oval, with a two-lap average speed of 216.726 mph in the Schmidt Peterson Motorsports-prepared car.
Aleshin, in his first season of Verizon IndyCar Series competition, has a high finish of second in the second race of the Houston doubleheader in June.
Updates will be provided by INDYCAR as available.