INDIANAPOLIS -- A crewman who was struck by Danica Patrick's race car in pit lane during Indianapolis 500 practice last week still was in a hospital Monday, being treated for a fractured skull and brain hemorrhaging.

Charles Buckman, a chief mechanic for Dale Coyne Racing, had been expected to be released Sunday but was kept for further observation.

The front wing of Patrick's car struck Buckman just after 2 p.m. Friday as she was trying to pit during practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Buckman's head hit the cement, briefly knocking him unconscious.

He was soon alert and was checked by medical personnel at the track and eventually at Methodist Hospital. Officials initially said he had suffered a concussion, and on Friday evening, Buckman issued a statement saying he'd be OK.

The Indy Racing League absolved Patrick of blame for the accident.

The driver issued a statement saying her thoughts were with Buckman. Her Andretti Green teammate, Tony Kanaan, told USA Today that Patrick cried over the incident.

"I said, 'Let it go. … It wasn't your fault,'" Kanaan told the newspaper.

Patrick participated in Indy 500 qualifying last weekend. She held the pole for 34 minutes before she was edged out and ended up in the fifth starting position. Had she held on to the top qualifying spot, Patrick would have been the first woman to ever win the Indy 500 pole.