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Indy 500 entry helps Karam 'recovery' from Justin Wilson crash

Sage Karam says his return to IndyCar for the Indianapolis 500 is helping him start to move on from his involvement in Justin Wilson's fatal crash last year

Wilson died from head injuries sustained when debris from Karam's crashed car flew into his path during last August's Pocono IndyCar race.

Karam parted company with Ganassi over the winter and sat out the first part of the 2016 season before doing an Indy 500 deal with Dreyer & Reinbold.

He admitted struggling to cope in the aftermath of Wilson's death and said the subsequent layoff had been difficult for him.

"Just to be back is incredible," Karam said.

"Just turning laps again is something I've been dreaming of for nine months, to get back in the car again and go 200mph plus, to be in there and have a day like Monday where I was fourth on the charts.

"When I was sitting there for nine months my last memory of racing was Pocono.

"I needed a new memory in the car and it got my mind off last year a bit.

"It's really made me take the next step in the recovery process."

Karam will start 23rd in Sunday's race. Last year he crashed out in a tangle with Takuma Sato on lap one.

"I just hope I get through Turn 1 this year. If I settle in we will have a good race," he said.

"Starting in the back you can save a little fuel but I'm going to be focused on getting to the front as fast as I can.

"Once I get there, I'm probably going to save fuel and get ready for the last 10 or 15 laps."

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