New Zealand motor racing driver Scott Dixon escaped with a minor wrist injury after a high speed crash in the Indy Japan 300 in Motegi, Japan yesterday.
Dixon, 22, was poised to make a run for his second win in the last three races after capturing pole position for the race.
The
New Zealander had led for 45 laps during the race and was challenging Tony Kanaan for the win in the closing laps.
Making a passing manoeuvre for the lead on lap 177, Dixon and Kanaan's cars clipped each other, sending both vehicles into the wall at over 320kmh.
The impact of the crash was "one of the most violent impacts that I have ever seen" said Mike King, the Indy Racing Radio Network commentator.
The impact destroyed both cars.
Dixon was released from the medical centre after complaining of pain in his right wrist while Kanaan was awake and alert when transported by air to Dokkyo University School of Medicine Hospital in Tochigi for X-rays of his right leg and left arm.
After starting fourth on the grid, Tomas Scheckter clearly had the fastest car in the race. The 22-year old South African led for 36 of the laps and also set the fastest lap of the race.
Like his New Zealand team-mate, Scheckter was also making a pass for the lead over Kanaan on lap 168, when his car went high and made contact with the turn four wall. The incident ended his bid for the victory. Scheckter was not injured in the incident.
"We had a good car all day long," Scheckter, who finished 16th said.
"When the yellow came, I heard that there was oil in turn three or four, and it just became a bad situation. I'm sorry for Team Target and Toyota that we didn't win."
The team will now gear up for the 87th running of the Indianapolis 500, to be held on May 25.
- NZPA
