Helio Castroneves cleared for Mid-Ohio IndyCar qualified after practice injury
Helio Castroneves has been cleared to take part in the upcoming IndyCar qualifying session after hurting his left hand in a crash during the morning practice session at Mid-Ohio
The Penske driver sustained the injury when he ran into the back of Mike Conway's car just after the Briton left the pits, causing him to jar his hand against the steering wheel. He was taken to the circuit's medical centre and cleared by IndyCar medical director Dr Michael Olinger.
"We were having a good session," Castroneves said. "Finally I was getting the rhythm, especially since we didn't get to test last week. I was really starting to understand what the car needs.
"Unfortunately, when Conway was coming out of the pits, he didn't know where to go. He was trying to help me but it ended up hurting me because he was chasing one line to give me room. Everywhere I would pull, it ended up being the line he would take to help. It's one of those instances where it's better to keep your line and not try to help each other.
"I didn't have enough time to brake and I hit him in the back, and the steering knob was kind of like whiplash and I hit my hand. Thank God it's not broken. It's just a bruise, and now we'll go out for qualifying."
Castroneves goes into this weekend lying second in the points standings behind Ryan Hunter-Reay, and just ahead of team-mate Will Power.
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