Jack Hawksworth was denied a podium finish in the Iowa Speedway Foundation 100 – round six of the 2012 Star Mazda Championship – due to a mechanical failure which saw him crash into a wall.

The Cullingworth driver (pictured) was not badly hurt after experiencing the first big accident of his career.

Hawksworth, who was in third place when it happened, said: “I was piling on the pressure behind the leading two when, with just over 20 laps to go, I felt a vibration all the way along the back straight.

“Then as I entered turn four, I went one way and the car went the other and put me into the wall. I had no time to react.

“Looking at the replays, when I turned into the corner, the rear tyre was already off the car and heading towards the fence.

“I’ve never hit a wall as hard as that before – it was the first really big accident of my career, in truth.”

The next race in the series is the Grand Prix of Toronto this weekend.