INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) — Three IndyCar drivers were involved in a multi-car crash during practice for the Indianapolis 500 on Monday afternoon.
According to officials, the incident occurred shortly after 2:00 p.m. when Alexander Rossi lost control exiting Turn 2 and collided with the wall. Pato O'Ward, positioned two cars behind, struck Rossi's vehicle after losing grip as well. Romain Grosjean, also trailing the pair, made contact with the wall while attempting to avoid the accident.
All three drivers exited their cars without assistance and reported no significant injuries. “I'm alright. I'm good,” O'Ward said. “Wrong place, wrong time.”
O'Ward explained that his rear-end collision with Rossi's car was difficult to avoid due to the high-speed nature of the corner. He noted that while the crash was unfortunate, he didn't see it as a major setback and expressed concern for the teams tasked with repairing the damaged cars.
“It's part of racing,” O'Ward said. “You need to challenge yourself to encounter similar situations.”
As a result of the crash, practice sessions were canceled for the remainder of the day due to adverse weather conditions. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.