Verizon IndyCar Series driver James Hinchcliffe, who underwent surgery May 18 for pelvic and upper left thigh injuries suffered in a crash in practice earlier in the day on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, was tranferred May 20 out of the Intensive Care Unit at IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
Upon further evaluation, it was determined that Hinchcliffe will require no further procedures and is expected to make a full recovery from his injuries.
“We’re very pleased with his progress and his condition continues to improve,” said Dr. Timothy Pohlman, senior staff trauma surgeon at IU Health Methodist Hospital, who performed the surgery. “Our expectation, in consultation with the INDYCAR medical staff, is that a normal recovery is to be expected.”
Additional updates to Hinchcliffe's condition will be released when available.
The car that Hinchcliffe was driving made hard right-side contact with the Turn 3 SAFER Barrier and slid on its right side all the way into Turn 4 about 50 minutes into the scheduled 12:30-4 p.m. (ET) practice. Hinchcliffe, who was awake when the Holmatro Safety Team arrived on the scene, was transported by ground to the nearby hospital.
A Honda spokesman said the right-front suspension failed as Hinchcliffe's car was entering the turn and he lost steering.
He had just turned a lap of 223.916 mph and was completing his 23rd lap in the session. Cars returned for a 4:15-6 p.m. practice -- the penultimate track time in preparation for the Indy 500. On May 17, Hinchcliffe qualified on the outside of Row 8 with a four-lap average speed of 223.519 mph.
Hinchcliffe, 28, of suburban Toronto, is in his first season with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. He won the inaugural Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana on April 12 and has one other top-10 finish (seventh in the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park on April 26) in five races. In 73 starts covering five Verizon IndyCar Series seasons, Hinchcliffe has four victories and 19 top-five finishes.
In four Indianapolis 500 starts, he has a best finish of sixth in 2012. He qualified second in 2014 while with Andretti Autosport.