IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe made his on-track return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday for the first time since a near-fatal crash at the same circuit last year.
Hinchcliffe lost huge amounts of blood when a piece of the car's suspension pierced his right leg, left thigh and pelvic area during practice for the Indianapolis 500.
Speaking after making his return to the circuit during a test organised by IndyCar to test aero pieces for the upcoming 500, he admitted he wasn't sure how he would feel, but once he was in the car, he settled down just fine.
"I think that until we did, it was going to be a question mark, right?" said Hinchcliffe. "Everyone was going to be thinking about it until we got out here and finally ran some laps. It’s always nice to be back at the Speedway.
"It’s a good first step for me personally, even if we don’t leave here with as much information as we would have liked."
When asked if he was anxious before getting in the car, he said: "[None] at all. It's my job, but it’s my passion, too.
"It’s never something I’ve been afraid of; hopefully it’s never something I am afraid of. Even going through what we did last year, as has been reported [and] as you’ve heard, my first question was, ‘When am I getting back in a race car?’
“I’m sad I didn’t get back here sooner, but that’s the nature of how the schedule works. It was good to finally get back.”
The Canadian admits missing out on last year's race was difficult for him.
"Sitting out last year was tough. Getting to watch all my friends and colleagues go do the greatest race on earth and having to watch from the sidelines was a big blow for sure.
"This is our Super Bowl; this is what we really put as much attention on as anything else. Of all the ones to miss, it’s the hardest [to miss]."
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