James Hinchcliffe almost died in Indy 500 practice crash
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
James Hinchcliffe didn’t have the most spectacular crash of Indy 500 practice, but his injuries were the most gruesome. In a week marred by cars going airborne it was this wreck that had the longest-lasting impact. A suspension wishbone came loose and penetrated the cockpit. Racer.com explains exactly what happened to the 28-year-old Canadian driver when his car struck the wall.
“Hinchcliffe had the steel wishbone enter and exit his right leg, then enter his upper left thigh, and continue into his pelvic region, where 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.”
Essentially the steel piece cut diagonally through his body, resulting in massive blood loss. Initially it was unclear if he would survive the crash, a source calling it “touch and go.” Thankfully, though, surgery was able to save Hinchcliffe’s life.
This will be the end of his racing season, but things could have been far worse.
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