Formula 1: Doohan escapes bad injury after crash

AAP SUZUKA, Japan – Alpine rookie Jack Doohan walked away from a big crash during practice for the Japanese Grand Prix.

Five laps into Friday’s second session, Doohan spun out at high-speed on approach to Turn 1.

His impact ripped both wheels off the left-hand side of his car and extensive damage to his car.

Doohan climbed out of the car but walked gingerly away from the car, with the help of two marshals.

When radioed by his team to see he was OK, Doohan replied: “I’m OK, yeah. What happened?”

As per F1 regulations, he will have a precautionary medical check-up.

Doohan’s role in Formula 1 appears to be increasingly at risk.

Alpine’s signing of Argentine driver Franco Colapinto to a reserve driver role earlier in the year prompted reports of an in-season report.

Sources have told ESPN the switch may happen in time for the Miami Grand Prix in May.

Doohan’s crash came shortly into his first practice session of the weekend.

The Australian had given up his car to Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa, another of Alpine’s reserve drivers, for the first session.

Hirakawa would be the driver most likely to step in at Suzuka if Doohan was unable to participate in the rest of the weekend.

Source: espn.com