James Hinchcliffe's Injuries Worse Than First Reported

 IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe's injuries to his lower extremities during a horrific practice lap crash in Turn 3 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway yesterday afternoon were much more severe than earlier news reports indicated. According to Racer's Robin Miller, the quick response of track safety crews and first medical responders likely saved his life. The veteran sports writer describes a gruesome injuries Hinchcliffe sustained when the car's wishbone suspension penetrated the car's safety cell and drove through and out his right leg and into his upper left thigh where it reached into his pelvic region. The significant blood loss alone was enough to endanger Hinchcliffe's life.

In the impact, which flattened the right side of the chassis, one of the suspension wishbones penetrated the Dallara safety cell, and subsequently caused the majority of the physical damage Hinchcliffe received. RACERhas confirmed through multiple sources that Hinchcliffe had the steel wishbone enter and exit his right leg, then enter his upper left thigh, and continue into his pelvic region before it came to a stop.

The suspension component pinned the 28-year-old in the car, leading the safety team to cut the wishbone from the chassis to allow Hinchcliffe's extraction.

With the multiple intrusions, Hinchcliffe experienced massive blood loss at the crash site, and despite the gravity of the soft tissue injuries to his lower extremities, stopping the bleeding became an immediate priority for the medical staff to address once he was pulled from the chassis.

After being placed in the ambulance, the doctors and technicians inside evidently stabilized Hinchcliffe's injuries. It's not known how long he was in surgery but it was "touch and go" for a while, according to the source.

Miller reports that Hinchcliffe is likely to be out for the rest of this year's season recovering from his injuries. Miraculously, the metal suspension rod that impaled his leg and thigh managed to miss the bones. Miller says observers are describing Hinchcliffe's crash as "among the most violent on record." Below is an illustration of the path the suspension rod followed according to Miller's description.