Indianapolis MotoGP: Casey Stoner declared fit to race

Defending champion Casey Stoner has been declared fit to race in the Indianapolis MotoGP despite sustaining multiple injuries during qualifying.

The Repsol Honda rider suffered, among other things, torn ligaments, bone damage and fractures in the crash.

Team-mate Dani Pedrosa grabbed pole, with championship leader Jorge Lorenzo second and Andrea Dovizioso third.

Stoner, who will wear special footwear to accommodate his ankle injury, will start from sixth on the grid.

The 26-year-old said he knew immediately after his crash that the injury was potentially serious.

"It's the first time in my career that I haven't been able to get up and walk away from an accident myself," he said.

"As soon as I stood up, I looked down and saw my foot was at a strange angle to my leg. I had a shooting pain in my lower leg, then I felt a crack as my ankle popped back in."

Spaniard Pedrosa completed the 16-turn road course in one minute 38.813 seconds to start ahead of Yamaha rider Lorenzo.

Ducati rider Nicky Hayden is out after being thrown off his bike on Turn 14 and knocked unconscious.

Lorenzo's Yamaha team-mate Ben Spies starts fourth after escaping unhurt from another crash, while Britain's Cal Crutchlow lines up in seventh after clocking a qualifying time of 1:39.549.

Qualifying times and standings for Indianapolis Grand Prix.

1 Dani Pedrosa (Spa) Repsol Honda One minute 38.813 seconds

2 Jorge Lorenzo (Spa) Yamaha 1:38.913

3 Andrea Dovizioso (Ita) Tech 3 Yamaha 1:39.235

4 Ben Spies (US) Yamaha 1:39.279

5 Stefan Bradl (Ger) LCR Honda 1:39.437

6 Casey Stoner (Aus) Repsol Honda 1:39.465

7 Cal Crutchlow (GB) Tech 3 Yamaha 1:39.549

8 Alvaro Bautista (Spa) Honda Gresini 1:40.072

9 Randy De Puniet (Fra) Power Electronics Aspar 1:40.437