NASCAR Cup Series

Chinese driver crashes on final qualifying lap

Published May. 21, 2011 10:16 p.m. ET

foxsports

Rookie driver Ho-Pin Tung has been diagnosed with a concussion and released from Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis after a crash during Indianapolis 500 qualifying.

Track medical officials have not given Tung clearance to drive.

Tung is trying to become the first Chinese driver to start the race, and without a backup car for the No. 8, it's unclear what Jay Penske's team will do. The final day of qualifying is Sunday.

Tung had topped 224 mph on each of his first three qualifying laps, an average that would have put him sixth on the starting grid at the time. But as he came out of the first turn on the final qualification lap, the car spun and backed into the outside wall. It skidded down the short chute before rolling to a stop.