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Felix Rosenqvist says he's 'doing OK' after scary IndyCar crash into wall

AutoRacing, IndyCar

Felix Rosenqvist said he was sore but "doing OK" following a wall-smashing crash Saturday early in the IndyCar race on Belle Isle.

Dr. Geoffrey Billows, IndyCar's director of medical services, said Rosenqvist suffered "no life- or limb-threatening injuries" and will remain at DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital overnight for observation.

Arrow McLaren SP said Oliver Askew will replace Rosenqvist on Sunday, when the series completes the doubleheader on Belle Isle. Askew made 12 starts for the team last year but was replaced by Rosenqvist after the season.

Arrow McLaren SP said in a statement on Saturday night that an investigation determined a non-recurrent mechanical fault was the cause of the crash. The team said that it "is confident that the issue is now fully resolved."

The statement added that the investigation eliminated driver error and issues with the throttle system as causes.

Rosenqvist appeared in trouble as he entered the sixth turn at the Raceway at Belle Isle Park. With no way to stop or slow his car, the Swede slammed into a tire barrier with enough force to move the retaining wall.

Some of the tires even went over the wall, and Rosenqvist's car was stuck nose up at a nearly 45-degree angle jammed into the scattered tire barrier. He seemed to struggle to catch his breath, and IndyCar's safety team placed Rosenqvist in a neck brace while extricating him.

After he was seen in the trackside medical center, Rosenqvist was taken to the hospital "for advanced imaging and evaluation by the trauma and neurological services," Billows said. 

Bud Denker, president of the Penske Corp. and head of the Detroit Grand Prix, was out on the track helping repair the wall and said Rosenqvist went through six rows of tires on impact.

Pato O'Ward, Rosenqvist's teammate at Arrow McLaren SP, watched the replay of the crash and speculated it had to be a stuck throttle.

"He popped off the brake. I mean, if you see the replays, you hear it out, the engine just goes flat out,'' O'Ward said. "I know him. I'm pretty sure that wasn't him doing that with his own throttle."

Marcus Ericsson won Saturday's race for his first IndyCar victory. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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