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Max Chilton crashes in practice just before Indy 500 qualifying

Former Marussia Formula 1 driver Max Chilton escaped serious injury after he shunted his Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara-Chevrolet at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in a rain-delayed IndyCar practice

The British driver, who is competing his first season in the series, suffered a heavy impact nose-first into the wall at Turn 2, causing a full-course caution.

Chilton went low onto the apron, lost control and did a full spin before slamming into the outside wall.

The accident happened just five minutes into Saturday morning's practice session and came after Chilton had turned a lap at 228mph.

Chilton escaped from the car uninjured and waved to the fans before returning to the paddock to be checked over by the circuit's medical team. He was evaluated and cleared to drive.

"I'm fine," Chilton said. "A bit battered and bruised.

"Your first accident on an oval is never a great one.

"The timing is pretty bad, but that's the issue with practice before qualifying.

"You just want to make sure the car is right.

"I felt like it was a little bit strong in the front but I don't have the experience to know what's too much.

"Now, I know. I know for future reference.

"It was my fault. I was driving the thing."

The crash came in the first group of the Saturday practice, which was delayed by more than three hours after downpours at the track.

Current Manor F1 reserve Alexander Rossi was the fastest driver in the session with a lap at 231.239mph in session one.

His Andretti Autosport team-mate Ryan Hunter-Reay, the 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner, jumped up to second-quickest at 231.107mph.

Tony Kanaan, the 2013 Indy 500 winner, was third quickest behind the Andretti Dallara-Hondas in his Ganassi Dallara-Chevrolet at 230.360mph.

Penske's three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves and 2014 IndyCar champion Will Power completed the top five.

The session, which was initially due to be a two-hour practice, was truncated to two 20 minute sessions in split groups, with the first day of qualifying having been pushed back over three hours. Only 21 of the 33 entrants chose to run in practice.

Saturday's qualifying will now finish one hour later than originally scheduled, at 7pm local time.

The session's main purpose is to split the field into the nine cars that will participate in Sunday's pole shootout and the 24-strong group that will fight for positions 10-33.

SATURDAY PRACTICE TIMES

Pos Driver Team Car Speed Time Laps
1 Alexander Rossi Andretti Herta Dallara/Honda 231.249 38.9191s 6
2 Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Autosport Dallara/Honda 231.107 38.9430s 7
3 Tony Kanaan Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara/Chevrolet 230.360 39.0692s 7
4 Helio Castroneves Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet 230.239 39.0899s 11
5 Will Power Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet 229.828 39.1598s 14
6 Josef Newgarden Ed Carpenter Racing Dallara/Chevrolet 229.674 39.1859s 3
7 Juan Pablo Montoya Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet 229.653 39.1895s 9
8 Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara/Chevrolet 229.493 39.2169s 3
9 Graham Rahal Rahal Letterman Lanigan Dallara/Honda 228.797 39.3362s 13
10 Spencer Pigot Rahal Letterman Lanigan Dallara/Honda 228.512 39.3853s 11
11 Max Chilton Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara/Chevrolet 228.359 39.4117s 2
12 Charlie Kimball Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara/Chevrolet 228.204 39.4384s 12
13 Takuma Sato AJ Foyt Enterprises Dallara/Honda 227.363 39.5843s 9
14 Sage Karam Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Dallara/Chevrolet 227.285 39.5979s 10
15 Matthew Brabham Team Murray Dallara/Chevrolet 226.479 39.7387s 9
16 Jack Hawksworth AJ Foyt Enterprises Dallara/Honda 226.397 39.7531s 7
17 Stefan Wilson KVSH Racing Dallara/Chevrolet 226.341 39.7630s 6
18 Sebastien Bourdais KVSH Racing Dallara/Chevrolet 225.342 39.9393s 3
19 Buddy Lazier Lazier Burns Racing Dallara/Chevrolet 225.296 39.9474s 13
20 Alex Tagliani AJ Foyt Enterprises Dallara/Honda 223.876 40.2009s 3
21 J.R. Hildebrand Ed Carpenter Racing Dallara/Chevrolet 215.303 41.8015s 6


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