INDIANAPOLIS, May 11 (UPI) -- Defending champion Buddy Rice suffered a concussion and a sore back Wednesday when he crashed in the second turn of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Doctors said they would not clear Rice to drive this weekend when the Indianapolis 500 pole position will be determined.
He hopes to be able to compete in the second week of qualifying and earn a spot near the back of the pack.
Rice had just turned a lap of 222.804 miles per hour at the speedway when his car hit the new safe barrier in the second turn.
"He's very sore but nothing is broken, thankfully," team co-owner Bobby Rahal said. "They will not allow him to qualify this weekend, which I know he's very disappointed with.
"We think he'll be ready to go on Wednesday. I'm not worried about where he qualifies. He's a heck of a racer and it's a long race."
