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Ear problem knocks driver Carlos Huertas from Indy 500

In these 2015, photos, drivers in the starting field for the May 24, 2015 Indianapolis 500 IndyCar auto race are shown after they qualified at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. Fifth row: Oriol Servia, of Spain; Charlie Kimball; Juan Pablo Montoya, of Colombia. Sixth row: Ryan Hunter-Reay, Graham Rahal, Carlos Huertas, of Colombia. Seventh row: Simona de Silvestro, of Switzerland; James Jakes, of England; Alex Tagliani, of Canada. Eighth row: Sage Karam, Conor Daly; Townsend Bell. (AP Photo/Dave Parker)
In these 2015, photos, drivers in the starting field for the May 24, 2015 Indianapolis 500 IndyCar auto race are shown after they qualified at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. Fifth row: Oriol Servia, of Spain; Charlie Kimball; Juan Pablo Montoya, of Colombia. Sixth row: Ryan Hunter-Reay, Graham Rahal, Carlos Huertas, of Colombia. Seventh row: Simona de Silvestro, of Switzerland; James Jakes, of England; Alex Tagliani, of Canada. Eighth row: Sage Karam, Conor Daly; Townsend Bell. (AP Photo/Dave Parker) In these 2015, photos, drivers in the starting field for the May 24, 2015 Indianapolis 500 IndyCar auto race are shown after they qualified at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. Fifth row: Oriol Servia, of Spain; Charlie Kimball; Juan Pablo Montoya, of Colombia. Sixth row: Ryan Hunter-Reay, Graham Rahal, Carlos Huertas, of Colombia. Seventh row: Simona de Silvestro, of Switzerland; James Jakes, of England; Alex Tagliani, of Canada. Eighth row: Sage Karam, Conor Daly; Townsend Bell. (AP Photo/Dave Parker)

By Associated Press 2 min read

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Carlos Huertas was ruled out of the Indianapolis 500 two days before the race after he was diagnosed with an “inner ear condition” and failed to pass a medical exam.

Dr. Terry Trammell, IndyCar’s medical consultant, said in a statement Friday that the 23-year-old Huertas will need further evaluation before being cleared to return to competition.

The exact nature of his condition was not disclosed.

Huertas had qualified on the outside of Row 6 for Dale Coyne Racing for Sunday’s 99th running of the Indy 500. The team had yet to announce his replacement, though Tristan Vautier is considered the likely choice. He would have to start 32nd in the 33-car field.

Huertas had a roller-coaster season a year ago. He won for the first time at the Grand Prix of Houston and made his Indy 500 debut, finishing 17th for team owner Dale Coyne. But he also pulled out of races at Iowa and Fontana with what was only reported as illnesses.