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Bourdais leaves hospital after injuries

Bourdais had surgery to repair multiple fractures to his pelvis and a fractured right hip, which he suffered on Saturday.

French driver Sebastien Bourdais had surgery to repair multiple fractures to his pelvis and a fractured right hip after a crash during qualifying for the Indianapolis 500

Bourdais had surgery to repair multiple fractures to his pelvis and a fractured right hip, which he suffered on Saturday when his car slammed into the outer wall of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.5-mile (4km) oval.

"I walked out of the hospital today. On to rehab now!" Bourdais tweeted, adding a picture of himself on crutches leaving Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

"Massive thanks to @UHealthMH for getting me back on my feet," he wrote. "Looking forward to getting back in the car!"

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Bourdais, 38, had Friday's final full practice session and had driven the two fastest laps Saturday to start his four-lap qualifying run, averaging 231.534 mph (372.617 km/hr) in his Honda-powered entry.

But his car slammed into the wall in turn two on the third lap and flipped over as flames erupted from the chassis. It took rescue workers about 10 minutes to free Bourdais from the wreckage.

Bourdais never lost consciousness and was awake and alert when taken to Methodist Hospital, where X-rays revealed the extent of his injuries.

Car owner Dale Coyne said Sunday that Bourdais will miss the remainder of the 2017 IndyCar season.

The 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, with New Zealand's Scott Dixon starting from pole position. Formula One racer Fernando Alonso will start from the second row.

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