A frightening multi-car crash flipped Mikhail Aleshin into the catch fence during practice Friday for the Verizon IndyCar Series' season finale at Auto Club Speedway.
Aleshin was in his car for several minutes as safety workers tended to him. He was was conscious and alert and immediately airlifted to a local hospital. He was diagnosed with a concussion, fractured ribs, a broken right clavicle and chest injuries and is listed in serious but stable condition.
Replays show Aleshin spinning between Turns 3 and 4, then shooting up the track and into the path of Charlie Kimball. Once he struck Kimball's car, Aleshin was launched end over end into the fencing surrounding the track. Marco Andretti was also involved in the crash.
Both Kimball and Andretti walked away and escaped injury.
Here's the catch fence. pic.twitter.com/YgGYND49zg
— Marty Snider (@heymartysnider) August 30, 2014
A large portion of the catch fence was ripped apart by Aleshin's car. Several photos on Twitter showed pieces of Aleshin's car, including a wheel, entangled in the fencing.
Wheel in the fence #IndyCar pic.twitter.com/AoJKGmYlRG
— Steve Wittich (@stevewittich) August 30, 2014
ACS, a 2-mile oval, is one of IndyCar's fastest circuits. Helio Castroneves qualified on the pole with a two-lap average speed of 218.540 mph earlier Friday night.