Rookie Sage Karam injures wrist during IndyCar test

Jeff Olson and Curt Cavin | USA TODAY Sports

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Sage Karam crashed and injured his right wrist during the early hours of the first day of a two-day open test session Monday for the Verizon IndyCar Series at Barber Motorsports Park.

Karam was driving his No. 8 GE LED Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet through one of the fastest sections of the permanent road course when he lost grip, drove through the grass at Turn 15 and slammed the barrier.

X-rays of the driver were negative, but the car at least had a cracked tub.

"This track is notorious for feeling like you've got a lot of grip when you don't," Karam said in cradling his hand and wrist.

Karam, a 20-year-old rookie, was checked and released from the infield care center but not immediately cleared to return to driving.

Karam called the near-frontal impact "huge. ... "They said we were pretty lucky," he said. "I'm pretty lucky."

Chip Ganassi's team packed up the car to return it to its Indianapolis shop for repairs. Karam will not participate in the rest of the season's first official test, which concludes Tuesday.

The Barber test is the first open practice using Honda and Chevrolet aero kits, which will be used this season beginning with the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 29.

Cavin writes for the Indianapolis Star, a property of Gannett.

Follow Olson on Twitter @jeffolson77 and Cavin @curtcavin