A significant collision occurred on Monday during practice, involving two highly ranked qualifiers for Sunday’s Indianapolis 500.
Alexander Rossi lost control of his vehicle in Turn 2, subsequently slamming hard into the outer barrier. This forceful contact caused Rossi’s tires to momentarily lift from the track surface, moments before Pato O’Ward’s vehicle spun into Rossi’s already damaged machine. Romain Grosjean was also caught up in this incident. Remarkably, all three competitors exited their vehicles unassisted.
Only the previous day, Rossi had secured the third qualifying position for the Indianapolis 500, positioning him on the leading row, directly behind pole-winner Alex Palou. O’Ward had earned the sixth starting spot, placing him in the second row.
Emerging from the infield medical facility and speaking on Fox Sports 1, O’Ward remarked, “It was merely unfortunate timing and location; I simply got caught up in it.”
This incident occurred while competitors were attempting to complete numerous practice laps, anticipating an imminent storm front. The scheduled two-hour session commenced at 1 p.m. ET but was improbable to conclude fully due to the impending precipitation. Monday’s track time represented the second-to-last practice opportunity before the customary Carb Day session on Friday.
Prior to this collision, Rossi and O’Ward were widely considered strong contenders for victory in the Indianapolis 500. Their respective crews now face extensive reconstruction work if they manage to recover the extensively damaged vehicles, although Rossi’s Ed Carpenter Racing squad appeared quick to deploy a reserve car. Broadcasts of the practice on Fox showed his crew preparing an alternate chassis only moments following the wreck.
Should any of the three drivers be compelled to utilize spare vehicles, IndyCar regulations permit them to retain their original grid positions. They will also have the chance to acclimate to these replacement cars – or their mended primary vehicles – during Friday’s practice session.
