James Hinchcliffe awake, remains in stable condition following accident

James Hinchcliffe remains in stable condition, but awake and communicating, and in a statement called those who kept him alive “my heroes.”

“Words can’t describe how thankful I am to the Holmatro Safety Team,” Hinchcliffe said. “Those guys, in addition to the doctors and staff at the hospital, are my heroes. I can’t say enough how much I appreciate the outpouring of support from IndyCar fans, my family and fellow drivers. We are all one big family and it feels like that today.”

The 28-year-old Canadian and four-time IndyCar Series winner was injured when a broken suspension part sent his car crashing into the Turn 3 wall Monday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Hinchcliffe had just posted a speed in excess of 221 mph the lap before his accident. He was practicing for Sunday’s Indianapolis 500.

After slamming into the wall a suspension piece went through Hinchcliffe’s right leg and into his upper left thigh, according to Racer.com. Track workers and doctors quickly extracted him and rushed him to Indiana University Methodist Hospital. Hinchcliffe was experiencing massive blood loss, according to the report.

Hinchcliffe underwent surgery to his left thigh and pelvis area Monday. Dr. Timothy Pohlman, senior staff trauma surgeon at IU Health Methodist Hospital, performed the operation. Hinchcliffe remains in stable condition in the intensive care unit.

“He’s stable and improving,” Dr. Pohlman said. “His condition was critical upon his arrival and I think the IndyCar system as a whole needs to be commended for how well they can take care of drivers in this situation.”