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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, May 21, 2015 | 46 Jon Kuiperij Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Sports a whole needs to be commended for how well they can take care of drivers in this situation." The Associated Press reported that Hinchcliffe's leg was pierced James Hinchcliffe by a piece of the car's right front suspension and surgery was needed "to stop massive bleeding." IndyCar officials have not confirmed the details of his injuries. Hinchcliffe, a four-time IndyCar race winner, crashed hard into the wall in Turn 3. The car slid down the track, briefly rolled on to its side before coming to rest on its wheels. The Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver was reported to be alert and awake as he was removed from the car on a backboard and taken to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway medical centre. He was later transported to Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital, where the surgery was performed. Following Monday's practice session, fellow drivers expressed their concern for Hinchcliffe. "My first thought after today's practice is just for my good friend James," said Charlie Kimball. "You never want to see that happen, especially after a mechanical failure like that." "I'm thinking of Hinch right now after his nasty crash," said Townsend Bell. "He took a very hard hit and you never want to see a driver have that type of incident. Our thoughts are with him tonight." Hinchcliffe will not race Sunday and an IndyCar release said he "has been ruled out of Verizon IndyCar Series competition for the foreseeable future." "We will do absolutely everything required to ensure a complete recovery," said Schmidt Peterson Motorsports team owner Sam Schmidt. "Connected to your Community" Hinchcliffe making substantial improvement after crash at Indy by Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver Staff Oakville driver moved out of ICU after hitting wall at 230 mph in practice Oakville IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe's is making substantial improvement following a violent crash Monday. Hinchcliffe slammed into the wall at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at more than 230 mph after the suspension in his car failed during practice for Sunday's Indy 500. "Words can't describe how thankful I am to the Holmatro Safety Team," Hinchcliffe said. "Those guys, in addition to the doctors and staff at the hospital, are my heroes. I can't say enough how much I appreciate the outpouring of support from IndyCar fans, my family and fellow drivers. We are all one big family and it feels like that today." The 28-year-old was transferred out of the intensive care unit at Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis Wednesday. Hinchcliffe had surgery on his upper left thigh and pelvic area, performed by Dr. Timothy Pohlman, the senior staff trauma surgeon. "We're very pleased with his progress and his condition continues to improve," said Dr. Pohlman. "Our expectation, in consultation with the IndyCar medical staff, is that a normal recovery is to be expected." "His condition was critical upon his arrival and I think the IndyCar system as The scoring pylon at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway displays a get well message for IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe, who crashed during practice for the Indy 500 Monday. Hinchcliffe needed surgery after a piece of the car's suspension pierced his leg. | Photo above and inset Chris Owens -- IndyCar Photo left, screen capture from YouTube Oldershaw's two golds highlight four medals by Burloak paddlers Mark Oldershaw had the Canadian anthem playing for the second day in a row after winning the C-1 (canoe singles) 500-metre World Cup race Sunday in Portugal. China's Qiang Li set the early pace but Oldershaw picked up his stroke rate to pull ahead and won a close race that saw the top four separated by just 0.74 seconds. His margin of victory over Li was just 0.168 seconds. Oldershaw's win was the seventh of his career in World Cup competition. He won the C-1 1,000m on Saturday, beating a field that included former Olympic and world chamBurloak Canoe Club's Mark Oldershaw won two gold pion Attila Vajda of Hungary. Vajda took the early lead, but Oldershaw medals at a World Cup in Portugal on the weekend. | Photo by Eric Riehl -- Oakville Beaver stayed within striking distance and overtook the 2008 Olympic gold medallist by the midway point of the race. He maintained that lead the rest of the way without being seriously challenged, winning in three minutes, 45.440 seconds to better Poland's Vincent Slominski by 0.740. The World Cup golds are Oldershaw's first since 2012, despite coming close and earning four silvers last season. The victory also solidifies Oldershaw's spot on Canada's Pan Am Games and world championship teams. Oldershaw won the Canadian team trials earlier this month in Gainesville, Ga. Burloak teammate Adam van Koeverden took the silver medal in the K-1 (kayak singles) 500m while Burloak's Chris Mehak was fifth. Van Koeverden and France's Cyrille Carre were neck-and-neck at the midway point of the race, with the Oakville native leading by less than a tenth of a second. Carre pulled away over the second half of the race, finishing in 1:37.960 to win by more than a second over van Koeverden, who finished in 1:39.112. Mehak had a time of 1:41.124. Burloak's Aaron Rublee also earned a silver medal in the C-2 200m, teaming up with Max Poulin. The Canadian duo had a time of 38.000 seconds, finishing behind Poland's Wiktor Glazunow and Vincent Slominski, who won in 36.900. Burlington's Brady Reardon and the Canadian K-4 crew of Pierre-Luc Poulin, Brian Malfesi and Phillipe Duchesneau finished seventh in the 1,000m.