Indianapolis ? Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk was cleared to drive Saturday, a day after he hurt his back when he crashed into a wall during practice.

He was examined by Speedway medical director Dr. Henry Bock before the start of qualifications Saturday and was told he would be allowed to compete. Qualifying will continue today and again next Sunday.

Luyendyk, 49, is the oldest driver entered in the race. He won Indy in 1990 and 1997.

Luyendyk had just completed a lap at 221.206 mph when he spun and backed into the outside wall of the first turn. The car slid down the track and hit the outside wall a second time, on the front right side.

“The car was set up in a way that was maybe too tricky for the conditions, which are different than they have been all week,” Luyendyk said. “I wasn’t pushing the car too hard at the time. It just swapped ends.”

The crash was the third in practice this week.

Japan’s Shigeaki Hattori sustained a concussion and broke the pinky on his left hand when his car hit the wall Tuesday. Hattori had surgery Wednesday and was released from the hospital Thursday, but he has not been cleared to drive.

A.J. Foyt IV, grandson of the four-time Indy winner, was not injured when he hit the wall Thursday.

Billy Boat crashed on the front straightaway Saturday in the final practice before qualifying for the Indianapolis 500.

Boat, the pole-winner in 1998, was helped out of the car after the crash. He was transferred by ambulance from the track’s infield medical facility to Methodist Hospital for further evaluation.

A team spokeswoman said Boat was complaining of pain between the shoulder blades and was undergoing tests.