Indianapolis ? Billy Boat was not cleared to drive Sunday, one day after crashing in the final practice before the Indianapolis 500 qualifying.

Boat crashed on the front straightaway and was taken to Methodist Hospital for tests after complaining of back pain between his shoulder blades.

He was released from the hospital Saturday afternoon and re-examined by Indianapolis Motor Speedway doctors Sunday morning.

“He really didn’t feel it was a big deal because he didn’t plan to get in the car today anyway,” Panther Racing spokeswoman Brigid Cunningham said. “He wants to get back in on Wednesday. He’s just going to go with that.”

Boat spun coming out of the fourth turn on the 21/2-mile oval and continued spinning as the car came down the front straight. The back of Boat’s car slammed hard into a plastic foam block padding the concrete wall between pit road and the track.

Boat’s car was airborne, spun around and came to a quick stop near the outside retaining wall.

The crash occurred shortly before heavy rain postponed the scheduled start of qualifying for the May 25 race.

The track will be closed today and Tuesday, with four days of practice after that before the final qualifications May 18. Boat was the slowest qualifier each of the past two years.

Billy Boat hits the end of the pit wall, top, then spins and hits the outside wall in the fourth turn, bottom. Boat, who crashed Saturday during practice, wasn't allowed to return to the track Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Cunningham said Boat was still in a “little bit” of pain Sunday.

“But he’s not one to complain,” she said. “He was a little sore, but he’s out and about and looks good.”

She said Boat did not say why he was denied clearance to drive.

“All he said was, ‘So far I haven’t been cleared; I’m going to go get some breakfast,”‘ Cunningham said.