Indianapolis 500: James Hinchcliffe takes pole a year after serious injury

Hinchcliffe joined the Schmidt Peterson Motorsports team for the 2015 season

James Hinchcliffe will start from pole position in the 100th Indianapolis 500 next weekend, a year after a serious injury in practice at the same race.

The Canadian underwent surgery after a part of his car's suspension pierced both of his legs after he hit a wall.

It is a first IndyCar career pole for 29-year-old Hinchcliffe, who missed the rest of 2015 before returning for the start of the 2016 season in March.

Hinchcliffe won it on the final run of the nine-car pole shootout.

It was the fourth closest differential between first and second in the race's 100-year history.

Josef Newgarden will start from second in the race, to be held on 29 May in Indiana.

Hinchcliffe's car smashed into a wall before spinning out of control last year

The driver pierced both of his legs and required surgery