Scottish racing driver Dario Franchitti has been admitted to hospital after a crash at the IndyCar Series Grand Prix of Houston.
The three-time Indy 500 winner collided with Takuma Sato on the final lap of the race in Texas and was sent crashing into the track wall forcing his car to fly into the air.
Debris from the accident flew over the fencing, reportedly injuring several spectators.
IndyCar later released a statement on its official Twitter feed confirming that Franchitti was awake on his arrival at the hospital and would be monitored overnight
The statement read: “IZOD IndyCar Series driver Dario Franchitti was admitted awake and alert to Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center in Houston for a concussion, spinal fracture that will require no surgery and a fracture to the right ankle.
“He will be kept overnight.”
Sato appeared to lose control of the back of his car as he rounded turn five, causing him to collide with Franchitti whose Target Chip Ganassi Racing car went into the wall.
“On the last lap I caught the marbles and brushed the wall and lost momentum,” Sato told www.indycar.com.
“A couple cars passed me as I was off-line and in turn five. I got very loose and Dario and I came together.
“Hopefully Dario is OK.”
The race was won by Team Penske driver Will Power, who told American television channel NBCSN following the race: “It just looked bad. I hate seeing that, I just hate it. I just hope he’s okay.”
Scott Dixon, who finished second, added: “Nobody ever wants to somebody get hurt so thoughts are with everybody that’s involved in that accident and hopefully we’ll be able see Dario here shortly.”