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Dario Franchitti Hospitalised After IndyCar Series Crash (VIDEO)

Franchitti Hospitalised After IndyCar Series Crash (VIDEO)
The Huffington Post UK/PA

Scottish racing driver Dario Franchitti has been admitted to hospital after a terrible crash at the IndyCar Series Grand Prix of Houston.

The three-time Indy 500 winner collided with Takuma Sato on the final lap of the race in Texas and was sent crashing into the track wall forcing his car to fly into the air.

Debris from the accident flew over the fencing, reportedly injuring several spectators.

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Safety team members work to remove Franchitti from his car

IndyCar later released a statement on its official Twitter feed confirming that Franchitti was awake on his arrival at the hospital and would be monitored overnight

The statement read: "IZOD IndyCar Series driver Dario Franchitti was admitted awake and alert to Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center in Houston for a concussion, spinal fracture that will require no surgery and a fracture to the right ankle.

"He will be kept overnight."

Franchitti crash
Grand Prix of Houston(01 of11)
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Emergency personnel and track workers respond to the scene of a crash by IndyCar driver Dario Franchitti during the second IndyCar Grand Prix of Houston auto race on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Houston. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Smiley N. Pool) (credit:AP)
Dario Franchitti(02 of11)
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Safety team members work to remove Dario Franchitti, of Scotland, from his car after a crash during the second IndyCar Grand Prix of Houston auto race, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Houston. (AP Photo/Juan DeLeon) (credit:AP)
Dario Franchitti(03 of11)
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Safety team members work to remove Dario Franchitti, of Scotland, from his car after a crash during the second IndyCar Grand Prix of Houston auto race, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Houston. (AP Photo/Juan DeLeon) (credit:AP)
Fence crash(04 of11)
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A piece of safety fencing is removed near a spectator grand stand after a crash during the second IndyCar Grand Prix of Houston auto race, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Houston. Driver Dario Franchitti, of Scotland, was taken to the hospital and several spectators were injured. (AP Photo/Patric Schneider) (credit:AP)
Dario Franchitti(05 of11)
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Safety team members work to remove Dario Franchitti, of Scotland, from his car after a crash during the second IndyCar Grand Prix of Houston auto race, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Houston. (AP Photo/Juan DeLeon) (credit:AP)
Dario Franchitti(06 of11)
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Safety team members load driver Dario Franchitti, of Scotland, into an ambulance after a crash during the second IndyCar Grand Prix of Houston auto race, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Houston. (AP Photo/Juan DeLeon) (credit:AP)
Dario Franchitti(07 of11)
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Safety team members load driver Dario Franchitti, of Scotland, into an ambulance after a crash during the second IndyCar Grand Prix of Houston auto race, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Houston. (AP Photo/Juan DeLeon) (credit:AP)
Will Power(08 of11)
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Winner Will Power, of Australia, looks up at a video board as a replay of Dario Franchitti's, of Scotland, wreck during the second IndyCar Grand Prix of Houston auto race, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Houston. Franchitti was taken to the hospital. (AP Photo/Patric Schneider) (credit:AP)
Dario Franchitti(09 of11)
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Safety team members work to remove Dario Franchitti, of Scotland, from his car after a crash during the second IndyCar Grand Prix of Houston auto race, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Houston. (AP Photo/Juan DeLeon) (credit:AP)
Dario Franchnitti(10 of11)
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Safety team members work to remove Dario Franchitti, of Scotland, from his car after a crash during the second IndyCar Grand Prix of Houston auto race, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Houston. (AP Photo/Juan DeLeon) (credit:AP)
Dario Franchitti(11 of11)
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Safety team members work to remove Dario Franchitti, of Scotland, from his car after a crash during the second IndyCar Grand Prix of Houston auto race, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Houston. (AP Photo/Juan DeLeon) (credit:AP)

Sato appeared to lose control of the back of his car as he rounded turn five, causing him to collide with Franchitti whose Target Chip Ganassi Racing car went into the wall.

"On the last lap I caught the marbles and brushed the wall and lost momentum," Sato told www.indycar.com.

"A couple cars passed me as I was off-line and in turn five. I got very loose and Dario and I came together.

"Hopefully Dario is OK."

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